The cabinet of caretaker Premier Romano Prodi on Thursday issued a decree allowing for partial local elections and early general elections to take place at the same time.
The so-called 'election day', which is actually two days (April 13 and 14) will benefit those who have to return to their home towns to vote and the military serving abroad.
It will also allow for elections in those towns and cities where the major and other elected officials have stepped down in order to seek a seat in parliament.
The grouping together of the two electoral appointments had originally been opposed by the center right opposition but their position recently changed and they are now in favor of it.
President Giorgio Napolitano made it clear that an 'election day' would only be possible if it had bipartisan support.
