Conte accepted Wednesday night the resignation of two IV ministers, Teresa Bellanova and Elena Bonetti, and an undersecretary from the party from his cabinet. The prime minister lambasted Renzi for what he said was "grave responsibility" for destabilising the nation as it battles with the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the IV pull-out amounted to "notable damage to the country."

Conte's main coalition partners, the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement (M5S) were holding leadership meetings Thursday to discuss the crisis and a plan to replace the IV votes in parliament with support from a so-called group of "responsible" MPs, many of them independents or people who deserted M5S, who have indicated they would be willing to support the government in a confidence vote. 

 Political commentators said that not all the MPs in Renzi's party are happy with his high-stakes decision to break with Conte and some of them might break ranks and vote to support the government in a confidence vote, meaning that they would leave the IV. 

 Italian President Mattarella has urged Conte to move to resolve the uncertainty as soon as possible, either by calling a confidence vote to explore whether he still may have a majority or else by resigning and allowing efforts to begin to form a new government without elections having to be called, Quirinal sources say.