Italian president in talks to form transition government

Rome, Dec 10 (IANS) Italian President Sergio Mattarella was on Saturday in talks with party leaders in order to form a new transition government.

Italy's political crisis started after the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Wednesday, following an overwhelming defeat in a referendum on the cabinet-backed constitutional reforms on December 4.

Mattarella has to consult all parties represented in parliament before naming a new Prime Minister, Xinhua news agency reported.

After hearing from leaders of 17 small parliamentary groups on Friday, the Italian president met with the six main parties on Saturday.

These included Renzi's center-left Democratic Party (PD) and euro-sceptic Five Star Movement (M5S), the first and second largest force in parliament respectively; anti-immigration Northern League, leftist SEL party, the New Center Right (NCD) party, and Forza Italia (FI) party of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The president's decision is expected as soon as Monday (December 12).