Italy's Premier-To-Be Paulo Gentiloni Poised To Make It Official

Italian Premier-designate Paolo Gentiloni says he has quickly completed sounding out political leaders on his proposed Democrat-led Cabinet and will tell Italy's president later Monday evening if he's succeeded in forming a government.

President Sergio Mattarella on Sunday asked Foreign Minister Gentiloni to try to assemble a new government, with the Democrat's majority in Parliament

Matteo Renzi has been serving as caretaker premier after resigned last week when voters rejected his proposed constitutional reforms.

Opposition parties demand elections soon. But Mr Mattarella wants Parliament to first enact electoral reform, aimed at making Italy more governable.

The current law has one set of electoral rules for the Senate and another for the lower Chamber of Deputies.

That's because voters in a referendum December 4 rejected changes to make the Senate not directly elected.