Italy president stands for tough job

rome - Italian President Sergio Mattarella Italy must decide how to proceed after the departure of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The reform drive Renzi Sunday foundered on a referendum on the question of how parliament and government can be more effective thanks to constitutional amendments.

The voters voted overwhelmingly (60 percent) against Renzi's plans. Italian media claim that Mattarella can not ask to form a new government, the outgoing prime minister. Renzi (41) of the center-left Democratic Party has made it clear that this defeat for him, the political end and after 2.5 years as head of government gives quit. The result was, according to observers, more a vote against Renzi than against reform.

The 75-year-old Sicilian Mattarella would have to find a prime minister who can count as Renzi at least the same parliamentary support. Among the names circulating in Rome, is that of the Minister of Finance, Pier Carlo Padoan (66). He has canceled his meeting Monday with the colleagues from the Eurogroup. The chairman of the Senate Pietro Grasso (71) could lead a new government. Which can optionally stay on until February 2018 when there were elections Renzi had served the ride. The new government could deal with important current issues such as the state budget for 2017 and changes to the electoral law.

The opposition, including the populist Movimento5Stelle (Five Star Movement) by Beppe Grillo, demanded elections as soon as possible.