Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's former ally turned bitter foe Gianfranco Fini on Tuesday ruled out resigning as speaker of parliament in a feud that could trigger early elections.
Fini said in comments on television channnel La Sette that he would remain as speaker "for the full term of the legislature," adding that talk of holding early elections to settle the dispute was "irresponsible."
Berlusconi's main coalition partner, Umberto Bossi, head of the Northern League party, said on Monday that he and the prime minister had decided to seek presidential intervention to force Fini to resign.
Fini said such a move "would show that they are illiterate in constitutional law."
The Northern League has pressed for elections as soon as possible.
Fini put an end to the prime minister's once-comfortable parliamentary majority by creating a splinter group in July but says he will try to find a way for the government to complete its full term, which ends in 2013.