ROME, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Saturday was going through the third and final day of political 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 reform on Dec. 4.
Mattarella has to consult with all parties represented in parliament before naming a new prime minister.
After hearing from leaders of 17 small parliamentary groups on Friday, the Italian president was meeting with six main parties on Saturday.
These would include Renzi's center-left Democratic Party (PD) and euro-skeptic 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.
Consultations would end at 6 p.m. local time, the president's office stated. His decision was expected as soon as Monday.
