10 December 2016, 00:14 GMT
ROME (Sputnik) – Italian President Sergio Mattarella will order Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni to form a new government on Sunday, local media reported, citing a statement by the president's office.
Gentiloni is to meet President Mattarella at his official residence, the Quirinale Palace, at 12:30 p.m. local time (11:30 GMT) on Sunday.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced on Monday his decision to step down after his constitutional reform proposals were rejected by Italians in a referendum. The formal resignation was postponed until the parliament passed the 2017 budget law, which it did on Wednesday.
The referendum was largely seen as an opportunity for the nation to express its dissatisfaction with the government. The "no" campaign was led by anti-establishment and Eurosceptic opposition parties.
