Italy's Parliamentary Elections Planned For Feb 24-25

By J.J. McGrath | December 22 2012 11:48 PM

Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved the country's parliament Saturday in the wake of caretaker Prime Minister Mario Monti's resignation Friday.

Reuters

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti adjusts his tie during a joint news conference with Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann at the Chigi Palace in Rome in this file photograph taken Oct. 24.

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Monti may continue to function as the interim prime minister until the parliamentary elections, which have been scheduled for Feb. 24-25, according to BBC News.

Monti was tapped to head a technocratic government last year, and his previously announced resignation became effective Friday once the parliament approved his budget.

He announced his intention to resign Dec. 8 after former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's center-right political party withdrew its support.

Monti may or may not pursue the premiership -- an announcement is anticipated Sunday -- but Berlusconi definitely will be running for the post.

However, public-opinion polls indicate Pier Luigi Bersani's center-left political alliance would likely beat either of them were the elections conducted now, BBC News reported.

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