Renzi likely to win first confidence vote in senate with tight majority

In keeping with his innovative image, Italy's youngest prime minister, Matteo Renzi, yesterday started his first day in office by dialoguing for a brief moment with his electorate on Twitter. In a series of exchanges, the web-savvy mayor of Florence promised he would try to cut taxes, assuring his fellow twitters that he was already hard at work: "No flash promotions but rather the vision and the pragmatism of a town mayor. Today working with Graziano [Del Rio, cabinet undersecretary] on our files. Method, method, method."

Having been sworn into office last Saturday morning by President Giorgio Napolitano, Mr Renzi (39) today faces his first crucial vote of confidence in the senate. While his majority is likely to be tight, he is still expected to come through today's vote without problems, given that he will be relying on almost exactly the same centre-left, centre-right coalition as his predecessor, party companion Enrico Letta.

The new Renzi government inevitably prompted some sharp weekend criticism. Centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, who has agreed an electoral reform pact with Mr Renzi, called the "unelected" government "undemocratic" and warned his followers to "be ready, at any moment" for a general election. M5S protest movement leader Beppe Grillo said Mr Renzi was playing out a B movie of the Last Days Of Pompeii variety, a move that would cost Italians dearly.

Even within his own Democratic Party (PD), Mr Renzi faces problems. At least six PD senators, led by Pippo Civati, are expected to vote against him in the senate today largely because they are uneasy about the manner in which he ousted Mr Letta 10 days ago. Mr Letta himself underlined that problem on Saturday afternoon with a very cold handover of the cabinet bell, in a small ceremony that traditionally marks the passing of the government baton.

Another senior PD figure, Stefano Fassina, on Saturday expressed his concern about possible conflicts of interest relative to the new economic development minister, Federica Guidi, a member of the Ducati family. Mr Fassina argued that given that Ducati Energia had a series of important contracts with state or partly state enterprises such as electricity supplier Enel, the Italian Post Offices and with Italian Railways, perhaps her appointment was less than opportune.

Ms Guidi’s well-established business links with Mr Berlusconi have also prompted concern.