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Italy leader dissolves parliament Italy to hold snap April election
(about 2 hours later)
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has dissolved parliament, paving the way for snap elections. Italy is to hold early national elections on 13-14 April, just two years after its last parliamentary vote, a cabinet minister has said.
The move comes after the country's leaders held unsuccessful talks to form an interim government. The news came hours after Italian President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved parliament, following unsuccessful talks to form an interim government.
The political crisis was triggered by last month's resignation of centre-left Prime Minister Romano Prodi who lost a confidence vote in the Senate. The political crisis was triggered by last month's resignation of centre-left Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
By law, President Napolitano has to call an election within 70 days of dissolving parliament. Mr Prodi, currently Italy's caretaker PM, lost a Senate confidence vote.
Mr Prodi - as a caretaker prime minister - is now expected to hold a cabinet meeting to decide the date for the election, widely expected to be held on 13-14 April. The BBC's Christian Fraser, in Rome, says the early election paves the way for a return to power of the opposition leader and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is at least 10 points ahead in the opinion polls.
Mr Berlusconi, Italy's richest man has already begun campaigning unofficially, our correspondent says.
The early election date was announced by outgoing Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi.
Electoral reformElectoral reform
Mr Prodi's centre-left coalition was defeated in the Senate in January - soon after the small centrist Udeur party left the government.Mr Prodi's centre-left coalition was defeated in the Senate in January - soon after the small centrist Udeur party left the government.
Silvio Berlusconi hopes to beat the centre-left blocSilvio Berlusconi hopes to beat the centre-left bloc
President Napolitano then asked the Senate Speaker, Franco Marini, to put together an interim government with a mandate to reform the electoral law that was widely blamed for the current instability.President Napolitano then asked the Senate Speaker, Franco Marini, to put together an interim government with a mandate to reform the electoral law that was widely blamed for the current instability.
Under the current proportional representation system, smaller parties with only a handful of seats hold the balance of power in parliament. There are currently 39 parties in the Italian Parliament.Under the current proportional representation system, smaller parties with only a handful of seats hold the balance of power in parliament. There are currently 39 parties in the Italian Parliament.
But after several days of intense talks Mr Marini admitted he had failed to convince the centre-right opposition.But after several days of intense talks Mr Marini admitted he had failed to convince the centre-right opposition.
Berlusconi's comeback? Mr Berlusconi had insisted during the crisis talks that only early elections could end the political crisis.
Opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi, the previous prime minister, had insisted during the crisis talks that only early elections could end the political crisis. Meanwhile, Walter Veltroni, the mayor of Rome, is widely expected to replace Mr Prodi as the centre-left's candidate for prime minister.
Mr Berlusconi, who framed the existing electoral system, is at least 10 points ahead in opinion polls, the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says.
Walter Veltroni, the mayor of Rome, is widely expected to replace Mr Prodi as the centre-left's candidate for prime minister.
Mr Veltroni has signalled that he wants his new Democratic Party to run alone without the support of the other centre-left parties, our correspondent says.Mr Veltroni has signalled that he wants his new Democratic Party to run alone without the support of the other centre-left parties, our correspondent says.
If this happens, analysts predict he will win a greater share of the vote.If this happens, analysts predict he will win a greater share of the vote.
But it would mean Mr Berlusconi's coalition will almost certainly be assured victory, our correspondent says.But it would mean Mr Berlusconi's coalition will almost certainly be assured victory, our correspondent says.