Florence mayor Matteo Renzi is expected to be offered the chance to become Italian prime minister, as talks begin on forming a new government.
President Georgio Napolitano is starting consultations following the resignation of Enrico Letta.
He was ousted in a vote called by Mr Renzi at a meeting of their centre-left Democratic Party. The 39-year-old would be Italy's youngest prime minister.
Mr Letta was under increasing pressure over Italy's poor economic performance.
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