Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is set to quit after launching a brutal attack on his own deputy today.
The 55-year-old politician made a blistering attack on his own interior minister, Matteo Salvini.
He accused Salvini of sinking the ruling coalition and endangering the economy for personal and political gain.
"(Salvini) has shown that he is following his own interests and those of his party," Conte told his fellow politicians today.
"His decisions pose serious risks for this country."
Salvini, 46, sat stony-faced beside Conte during the scathing attack.
Parliament was recalled from its summer recess in Italy to decide the future of the barely year-old government.
But Conte, who belongs to neither of the coalition's two
parties, decided to resign.
The head of state will start formal consultations with parties to see if a new coalition can be formed.
Failing that, President Sergio Mattarella may dissolve parliament.
Luigi Di Maio is head of the League's now-estranged coalition partner, the 5-Star Movement. That though was branded as obstructionist recently.
Salvini has demanded early elections, confident his surging popularity will sweep him into power as prime minister and push the anti-establishment 5-Star into opposition.
Mr Di Maio said working with Mr Conte "was an honour".
