Italy will hold early national elections in April, it was revealed today.
The date was set by the cabinet of caretaker Prime Minister Romano Prodi shortly after President Giorgio Napolitano formally dissolved parliament.
The election could mark a return to power of media magnate Silvio Berlusconi.
Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano announces elections during a news conference at Quirinale palace in Rome. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
In a dramatic sequence of events even by Italian standards, Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned last month after coalition allies defected, attempts to set up an interim government failed and
President Napolitano's bid for cross-party support to reform Italy 's messy voting rules before a fresh election met stiff resistance from Mr Berlusconi.
"It is my regret today to have to call voters back to polling booths without those reforms having been approved," said Mr Napolitano after he and and Mr Prodi, now caretaker premier, signed a decree dissolving parliament three years ahead of schedule.
Mr Prodi's cabinet set the poll date for April 13th and 14th.
Mr Berlusconi, a 71-year-old billionaire who has been prime minister twice before, has a consistent lead in opinion polls, leading Mr Prodi's fragmented centre left by as much as 16 points.
His rival will be Rome's 52-year-old mayor Walter Veltroni, who had supported an interim government to change voting rules that were widely blamed for the fragility of Mr Prodi's government, Italy 's 61st since World War Two.