The heads of Italy's political groups were set to decide on Monday when to hold a no-confidence vote, days after nationalist leader Matteo Salvini announced he was pulling the plug on the populist coalition government.
Mr Salvini wants snap elections, but faces a challenge from his ex-coalition partner and the opposition centre left, reports BBC.
Ex-Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is calling for a caretaker government.
A final decision on the next step rests with the president.
Mr Salvini's nationalist League party has been in government with the populist Five Star Movement for the past 14 months, but relations between the parties have turned sour.
The government is headed by an independent prime minister, Giuseppe Conte.