Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi backs an electoral system reform that could result in a snap election within months, the Financial Times reported May 29, citing Renzi's interview with Il Messaggero.

Italy's ruling center-left Democratic party, which Renzi leads, was due to start discussions with opposition parties on electoral reform May 30.

Renzi is in favor of a German-style electoral system, which is based on proportional representation and requires parties to secure at least 5% of votes to enter the lower house of parliament. Silvio Berlusconi, the leader of the center-right Forza Italia party, and Beppe Grillo, the head of the populist Five Star Movement, also reportedly back the German model.

An Italian election coinciding with Germany's September vote would "make sense," Renzi told the Roman newspaper.

The current Italian government would continue until the next general election, which is due before the spring of 2018, if parties fail to reach a deal on electoral reform, according to the report.