ROME: Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni was meeting president Sergio Mattarella on Thursday in the first formal step ahead of the dissolution of parliament which is necessary before an election can be called, a government source told Reuters. Gentiloni went to the president?s palace at 3 p. m. (1400 GMT), said the source.
After the meeting with Gentiloni, Mattarella is expected to summon the speakers of the two houses and then dissolve parliament. Gentiloni?s cabinet will then set the date of the election, which is widely expected to be March 4.Earlier on Thursday Gentiloni defended the record of his year-old government and said he would remain in office and ensure continuity ?until a new government is in place?.Speaking at the prime minister?s traditional end of year news conference, he appealed to political parties not to spread fear and make unrealistic promises in the ?imminent? election campaign. ?I think it is in the interests of the country to have an election campaign that limits as much as possible the spreading of fears and illusions, these are the risks we have before us,? he said.
12-29-2017, 06:00 AM
Italy PM meets president ahead of dissolution of parliament
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