Renzi Says Italian Lawmakers Should Decide on Timing of Early Elections

The decision on the timing for the early parliamentary elections in Italy should be made by the country's lawmakers, outgoing Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday.

ROME (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Renzi submitted his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella, who accepted it, but asked Renzi to postpone his resignation until the law on the 2017 state budget is adopted. Shortly following, the Italian gave its final approval to the budget, paving the way for Renzi to step down.

"After that [the resignation], the president of the republic will begin consultations. And then parliamentary parties are to decide what to do… Do they want to immediately go to the polls? In this case, it is necessary to wait for the decision of the Constitutional Court, which will be issued on January 24, and to hold elections in accordance with the electoral laws and those amendments to be made by the court," Renzi said in a statement.

If the lawmakers wanted to work in the current government until the next 2018 elections on schedule, they had to show their willingness to support the new government, which would work to change the electoral law, the prime minister said.

Renzi decided to resign on Monday night as the Italians rejected constitutional reform plan proposed by him on Sunday.