"We needed continuity," Lynch said in a recent telephone interview.
He strongly defended his government's accomplishments, including a modest increase in economic growth — starting from zero — and said Italy needed "continuity" to make real change.
By Thursday, the justice and interior ministers had both offered their resignations, although the prime minister refused to accept them, on the grounds that the country needed continuity in crisis.
Last week, the White House asked Mr. Leahy to come to the White House for a meeting about the F.B.I. directorship, and Mr. Obama told him he wanted to keep Mr. Mueller, arguing that the national security team needed continuity.
But President Obama asked Congress to allow Mr. Mueller to stay on, arguing that his national security team needed continuity because the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency were getting new leaders.
But President Obama asked Congress to allow Mr. Mueller to stay on at the bureau, arguing that his national security team needed continuity because the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency were getting new leaders.
