Parliament in Italy dissolved by President Giorgio Napolitano

President Giorgio Napolitano on 22 December 2012 dissolved Italy’s Parliament following the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Monti on 21 December 2012. The Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held on 24-25 February 2013.

Since taking office in November 2011, the Prime Minister and his non-party team of ministers implemented economic austerity measures in the form of cuts in spending and tax hikes. The election was triggered after Silvio Berlusconi's party center-right People of Freedom party (PdL) withdrew support from Monti's government.

Italian government under the leadership of Mario Monti brought forward a series of austerity reforms backed by EU and business leaders. Italy's public debt is increasing and economy is in a kind of turmoil. But majority of Italians, frustrated by benefit cuts, tax hikes and unemployment, do not appear convinced.