Enrico Letta

Predecessor Enrico Letta floated such a tax in 2013, but Renzi ditched the project when he took office the following year.

Former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta announced Sunday he will resign from parliament for a job heading up the international affairs school at the elite Sciences-Po university in Paris.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi won a final parliamentary vote of confidence on Tuesday after pledging to slash red tape and "revolutionise" the economy.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called for a "radical and immediate change" in recession-hit Italy as he outlined his new government's reform agenda before winning a crucial confidence vote in the Senate early on Tuesday.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi faces his first test before a fractious national parliament when he goes before the Senate on Monday.

Matteo Renzi became Italy's youngest premier on Saturday, promising a new era of stable government after using old-school politicking to engineer the ouster of a fellow Democrat he deemed too timid to get the nation back to work.

Italian centre-left leader Matteo Renzi took office on Saturday as his country's youngest Prime Minister, facing pressure to show immediate results after he forced out his predecessor over the slow pace of economic reforms.

Centre-left leader Matteo Renzi was set to be nominated as Italy's youngest prime minister in a matter of days after a party coup forced Enrico Letta to resign as premier of the euro zone state struggling to pull out of recession.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano began meeting political leaders on Friday after Prime Minister Enrico Letta's resignation, with leftist leader Matteo Renzi virtually certain to win the nomination to succeed him.

In Europe, the fading momentum was compounded by fresh political uncertainty in Italy where Prime Minister Enrico Letta defied pressure to make way for the centre-left leader Matteo Renzi.

The European Union (EU) is following the Italian marines case in India "very closely" and any decision on the issue may impact bilateral ties.

Silvio Berlusconi has returned to the political scene after a tax fraud conviction, striking a deal with the leader of the largest centre-left party on electoral reform that could give Italy badly needed stability.

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, said on Thursday revolution would break out if he were arrested and thrown in prison.

Italy's Prime Minister Enrico Letta won a confidence vote in the Senate on Wednesday, confirming his government's majority after promising sweeping reforms.

The Italian Senate expelled Silvio Berlusconi over his tax fraud conviction on Wednesday.

Predecessor Enrico Letta floated such a tax in 2013, but Renzi ditched the project when he took office the following year.

Former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta announced Sunday he will resign from parliament for a job heading up the international affairs school at the elite Sciences-Po university in Paris.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi won a final parliamentary vote of confidence on Tuesday after pledging to slash red tape and "revolutionise" the economy.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called for a "radical and immediate change" in recession-hit Italy as he outlined his new government's reform agenda before winning a crucial confidence vote in the Senate early on Tuesday.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi faces his first test before a fractious national parliament when he goes before the Senate on Monday.

Matteo Renzi became Italy's youngest premier on Saturday, promising a new era of stable government after using old-school politicking to engineer the ouster of a fellow Democrat he deemed too timid to get the nation back to work.

Italian centre-left leader Matteo Renzi took office on Saturday as his country's youngest Prime Minister, facing pressure to show immediate results after he forced out his predecessor over the slow pace of economic reforms.

Centre-left leader Matteo Renzi was set to be nominated as Italy's youngest prime minister in a matter of days after a party coup forced Enrico Letta to resign as premier of the euro zone state struggling to pull out of recession.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano began meeting political leaders on Friday after Prime Minister Enrico Letta's resignation, with leftist leader Matteo Renzi virtually certain to win the nomination to succeed him.

In Europe, the fading momentum was compounded by fresh political uncertainty in Italy where Prime Minister Enrico Letta defied pressure to make way for the centre-left leader Matteo Renzi.

The European Union (EU) is following the Italian marines case in India "very closely" and any decision on the issue may impact bilateral ties.

Silvio Berlusconi has returned to the political scene after a tax fraud conviction, striking a deal with the leader of the largest centre-left party on electoral reform that could give Italy badly needed stability.

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, said on Thursday revolution would break out if he were arrested and thrown in prison.

Italy's Prime Minister Enrico Letta won a confidence vote in the Senate on Wednesday, confirming his government's majority after promising sweeping reforms.

The Italian Senate expelled Silvio Berlusconi over his tax fraud conviction on Wednesday.