PM asked to delay resigning

Italy’s President has asked Premier Matteo Renzi to delay stepping down until parliament can pass a critical budget law due later this month.

President Sergio Mattarella, met Mr Renzi on Monday at the presidential palace in Rome.

Mr Renzi told the president “it’s not possible to continue in his post” as premier following the resounding defeat on Sunday of a referendum on constitutional reforms that Mr Renzi promoted.

Mr Mattarella, considering how parliament needs to complete its approval of the budget law, “asked the premier to delay his resignation until that task is accomplished”.