Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has been speaking in the Senate ahead of a confidence vote in his government.

Saying that Italy was at a “crossroads”, Renzi stressed the need for electoral reform. He added that the country has been shackled by bureaucracy for too long.

Renzi took over the leadership of the Democratic Party (PD) in December, and was appointed prime minister on February 22 after pushing party rival Enrico Letta to resign.

His government is expected to win the confidence vote in the 320-seat Senate. Renzi is backed by his PD party, the small centre-right NCD party, centrists and several other Senators.

But if Renzi were to fall below the 173 votes secured by his predecessor Letta, his authority would be weakened from the start.