Ex-Italian PM steps down as secretary of his party

Rome, Feb 19: Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Sunday stepped down from his role as Secretary General of the Democratic Party (PD). Renzi’s resigtion from his top-level party post came just two months after he stepped down as Prime Minister when the public voted to reject a motion of his in a referendum, Efe news reported.

His latest resigtion looked set to be a decisive moment for his centre-left party which was currently experiencing a revolt from a minority of its members.

The PD president, Matteo Orfini, announced the news on Sunday at the opening of the party assembly. Party members would now have the chance to lodge their candidacy for the role, Orfini said. (IANS)