Local balloting across Italy to be held on the same day as parliamentary elections

When Italians go to the polls to elect a new parliament in April, many of them will also vote in balloting to elect mayors and other local officials.

The Cabinet approved a decree Thursday that allows the local balloting to coincide with the national election set for April 13-14, Cabinet minister Vannino Chiti said. The move is estimated to save the state millions of euros (dollars).

In the national vote, Italians will elect 945 lawmakers and choose between candidates including conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi and Walter Veltroni of the center-left for the premiership.

Locally, among other races, some cities will elect new mayors, including in Rome where Veltroni stepped down this week as mayor in order to run for premier.