Opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi said today he would not support an interim government to guide Italy out of a political crisis, making a snap election appear inevitable.
Italy's 61st government since World War Two collapsed last month after Prime Minister Romano Prodi lost a confidence vote in parliament following defections from his coalition.
Loath to send Italians back to the polls less than two years after the last vote, President Giorgio Napolitano asked the speaker of the Senate to try to form a temporary government and reform voting rules blamed for the instability of Mr Prodi's government.
But former prime minister Mr Berlusconi, sensing a quick return to power, has dug in his heels and demanded elections now.
"We hope - and we think that's what will happen - that after these consultations the head of state will call elections immediately, because the country quickly needs an efficient government to solve its grave problems," the 71-year old said.
Mr Berlusconi, the only prime minister to have served a full five-year term in post-war Italy, and his main conservative ally Gianfranco Fini met Senate speaker Franco Marini on Monday for the final stage of talks on a way out of the political vacuum.
Both told Mr Marini, a Catholic centre-leftist with broad appeal, that elections were the only option and electoral reform could wait. A vote could be held as early as April.
Walter Veltroni, Mr Prodi's heir as centre-left leader who would face Mr Berlusconi in an election, also met Mr Marini today.
"I think this risks being a missed opportunity for Italian politics, rushing towards elections with a flawed law," he said.