Italy’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini has told his party he wants to keep its fractious coalition government going, but is ready to see it collapse if he cannot push through his flat tax plans and other priority measures.

Italy's president has asked Premier Matteo Renzi to delay stepping down until parliament can pass a critical budget law due later this month.

Italy's populist opposition 5-Star Movement says it is ready to run the country after voters triggered the demise of prime minister Matteo Renzi with a stinging defeat on his reforms referendum.