Italy PM Enrico Letta faces showdown with Matteo Renzi

Matteo Renzi (left) has made it clear he wants PM Enrico Letta's job

taly's Democratic Party (PD) is due to hold a crisis meeting amid speculation that Prime Minister Enrico Letta could be replaced by his younger rival.


The talks of the centre-left party are set to become an open showdown between Mr Letta and party leader Matteo Renzi.
Mr Renzi, the 39-year-old mayor of Florence, has made it clear he wants to take over from Mr Letta, 47.
On Wednesday, the two politicians held what was described as a "frank" meeting in Rome.

Mr Letta has been in power since forming a coalition in April after an election stalemate.
Although the prime minister has kept a careful lid on public expenditure, he has not been able to carry out much needed administrative reforms and stimulate economic growth, the BBC's David Willey in Rome reports.

The PD meeting had originally been scheduled for next week but was brought forward to Thursday, with Italian media saying these could be crucial hours for the future of the government.

It is thought the party's 140-member leadership committee may decide whether or not to continue backing the government.

This comes after Mr Letta met Mr Renzi for about an hour at the prime minister's office, the Chigi palace.
After the meeting, Mr Letta warned: "Anyone who wants to take my place must spell out their intentions, I'm asking for clarity."

The prime minister is also expected to present the government's reform programme at the PD gathering.
Meanwhile, Mr Renzi - who has already said he favours early general elections - said he would make his intentions clear at the crisis party talks.

"What I have to say, I will say tomorrow at the leadership meeting at 15 (14:00 GMT), openly, in live streaming," Mr Renzi tweeted.
President Giorgio Napolitano, who appointed Mr Letta as prime minister, said earlier that a decision on the fate of the government was up to the PD.

However, the president - who alone has the power to dissolve parliament - has warned that this is not the right time for the country to go to the polls, our correspondent says.