 |
| Matteo Renzi (39) tipped as new Italian PM |
Letta drove himself to the presidential residence, the Quirinale in Rome – amid yet more political turmoil in the country.
Letta announced on Thursday that he would stand down after a meeting of his centre-left Democratic Party (PD) voted in favour of changing the government.
The man expected to take over as prime minister is the new party leader Matteo Renzi, 39. He could be named premier as soon as this weekend, and would be the country’s youngest-ever leader.
The president is now beginning meetings with political parties to find a solution to the leadership crisis and pave the way for a new government.
There has been growing criticism over the slow pace of economic reform in Italy which left Letta increasingly isolated.
A low-key moderate, he was appointed in April last year to lead the cross-party coalition patched together after deadlocked elections had brought weeks of fruitless wrangling between rival parties.
Letta did not attend Thursday’s party meeting, which was brought forward from next week.
Read more: Matteo Renzi tipped to be new Italy PM as Letta quits | euronews, world news
