Italian President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved parliament on Saturday following Prime Minister Mario Monti’s resignation from office, formally setting the stage for general elections to be held in February.  Monti resigned on Friday a couple of months ahead of the end of his term of office, after his technocrat government lost the support of Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right People of Freedom (PDL) party. For weeks, speculation has swirled over what role Monti will play in the election, which cabinet confirmed would be held over two days on next February.