Italian parliament passes 2018 budget, clearing way for elections

Rome

ITALY'S Upper House Senate on Saturday gave Parliament's final approval to the government's 2018 budget, clearing the way for national elections expected to be held in March.

The financial law, which had already passed in the Chamber of Deputies, aims to lower next year's fiscal deficit to 1.6 per cent of gross domestic product from a targeted 2.1 per cent this year.