ROME, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Italy will hold general elections on March 4, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni's cabinet said in a statement on Thursday.

The announcement came after Italian President Sergio Mattarella dissolved the parliament earlier in the day, paving the way to the next political campaign.

The president's move put an official end to the five-year legislature that began in March 2013, after Gentiloni had declared the political mandate of his government was fulfilled.

The cabinet also decided to set the date for the first gathering of the next parliament on March 23, according to the statement.