Italy`s Prime Minister announces resignation amid party revolt
Baku, February 15 (AZERTAC). Prime Minister Enrico Letta, whose weak coalition government has come under increasing criticism, announced on Thursday that he would resign, after his own Democratic Party staged a dramatic insurrection and set the stage to replace him with the party`s new leader, Matteo Renzi.
The Democratic Party is the largest member of Italy`s coalition government, and the party`s decision to dump Mr. Letta could be put to a confidence vote in Parliament. Mr. Letta will meet with his cabinet on Friday morning and then present his resignation letter to Italy`s president. This clears the path for Mr. Renzi, 39, to try to become Italy`s youngest prime minister.
Mr. Renzi, the mayor of Florence, recently won a nationwide primary to become leader of the Democratic Party. He has a reputation for boldness and has long been considered Italy`s most promising young politician. He has spoken repeatedly about the need for sweeping political and economic changes. But until a few days ago, few analysts anticipated that he would lead a revolt against his own party`s sitting prime minister.
For Europe, which is witnessing rising populist anger before European parliamentary elections, Italy`s economic doldrums and political gyrations are sources of persistent concern. Last year, Mr. Letta fended off challenges to his government by arguing that Italy needed stability, an argument endorsed by many European leaders.
Now the question is how Mr. Renzi will coexist with the other parties in the coalition. Angelino Alfano, the deputy prime minister and leader of the party New Center-Right, praised the accomplishments of the Letta government as a ship that had navigated rough waters. He warned that his party would not continue to support the government if Mr. Renzi moved it too far to the left.
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