Former senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) official Carlo Cottarelli speaks to the media after a meeting with Italy's President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, Italy, May 28, 2018. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

ROME (Reuters) - Italian prime minister designate Carlo Cottarelli is holding “informal talks” with President Sergio Mattarella, a presidential source said on Wednesday.

Cottarelli, who has been trying to put together a stop-gap government to lead the country to early elections, had been expected to meet Mattarella formally, which led to expectations that he was ready to give the head of state a list of ministers. The source gave no details on why the informal talks were necessary.