Italy's President Mattarella dissolves Parliament ahead of elections

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella has dissolved Parliament as the country prepares for knife-edge general elections in March next year. The elections are scheduled to be held on March 4 and are expected to mark a new era of uncertainty for the country. 

However, the next parliament could be left without a clear majority as the vote is predicted to be split



between the right, centre-left and the populist Five Star movement. But instability is nothing new for the country that has seen 64 governments since 1946. 

Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni is the third leader of the parliament that was elected in 2013. He is likely to stay in office until the creation of the new government following elections.