Italy to hold March general election

By Ecenur Colak and Baris Seckin

ROME

Italians will vote in a parliamentary election on March 4, the president's office said Thursday.

President Sergio Mattarella approved a decree to dissolve parliament and pave the way for the general election.

Italy last held a general election in 2013. Since then, the center-left Democratic Party has governed the country under three different prime ministers; Enrico Letta, Matteo Renzi and incimbent Paolo Gentiloni.