The Wall Street Journal-20080206-Politics - Economics- In Brief

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Politics & Economics: In Brief

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Italy Seen Dissolving Parliament,

Holding Elections by Mid-April

Italy's president is expected to dissolve Parliament today, as the country appears headed toward a general election by mid-April following failed efforts to form an interim government. President Giorgio Napolitano met yesterday with the speakers of the two legislative chambers, a formality required before Parliament can be dissolved. Elections then would have to be held within 70 days. A call for early elections would be a victory for Silvio Berlusconi, the conservative leader who has repeatedly demanded a return to the polls.

-- Associated Press

Russia Tries to Compromise

With Election-Monitor Body

Russia offered concessions to a prominent election monitoring group that has threatened to stay away from the March 2 presidential vote because of restrictions on the timing and size of its observer mission. But Russian news agencies quoted the spokesman for the election monitoring arm of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as saying the proposal didn't go far enough. The offer came amid persistent concerns in the West about democracy under Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Burmese Businessman Sanctioned

The Treasury Department announced financial sanctions against family members of the military-run government of Myanmar and individuals it identified as key members of the financial empire of Tay Za, an influential businessman in the country. Adam Szubin, the director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, described Tay Za as "an arms dealer and financial henchmen of Burma's repressive regime."

-- Associated Press