Italy Finds A Government

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30312, 12 December 1963, Page 20

Italy Finds A Government

The Italian Socialists' agreement to resume partnership with the centre parties in the government of Italy might be an event of great importance for Europe as well as for Italy. Italian politics are never simple, and the background against which the parties have been negotiating could hardly be more confusing. In the elections last April the Christian Democrats and Socialists did badly, while the Communists did remarkably well, emerging with a gain of a million votes. The Parliamentary situation made a coalition of parties necessary; but which parties? Assuming absolute party discipline, a CentreRight coalition would command a majority of a few seats; but in practice the left wing of the Christian Democrats would never be reconciled to such a solution, which would further embitter Italian political life and perhaps bring Parliamentary government to an end. An approach by the leader of the Christian Democrats (Mr Aldo Moro) to “ the opening to the left ” seemed promising; Pietro Nenni's left-wing Socialists might be persuaded to support in Parliament a coalition of Christian Democrats. Republicans. and Social Democrats. But a revolt in his party forced Mr Nenni to retreat Since this failure, tn July, Mr Moro has ruled with a caretaker government that was able to perform only routine duties.

In October the Italian Socialist Party’s congress approved—on terms—the idea of entering a coalition government with the Christian Democrats and their smaller allies, the Social Democrats and Republicans. After weeks of hard bargaining the persistence and negotiating skill of Mr Mero have been rewarded. As Prime Minister, he has handed to the President a Cabinet list consisting of 16 Christian Democrats, six Socialists (including Mr Nenni as deputy-Prime Minister), three Social Democrats, and one Republican. If this combination of parties can hold together, it will provide Italy with a government strong enough to outvote any possible combination of its opponents. It might be an uneasy alliance. Mr Nenni might encounter trouble from his left wing, which he defeated at the October Congress: and items in the Socialists’ programme are anathema to the right wing cf the Christian Democrats. The co-operation of the alliance will be severely tested. If it survives it will*

certainly bring new flexi-! bility to Italian politics. If the Catholic centre and the Marxist left can work together in a left-wing government which is democratic as well as radical, the allegiance of Italian workers to the Communists might be seriously weakened. Italy’s impressive economic growth since the war has increased! Italian weight in the coun-| oils of Europe: Italy’s role! in the Common Market might yet be as important as the French or German roles. A firm and wellestablished left-wing government in Italy, the “ Guardian ” said recently, “could play an important “part in counteracting the inward-looking tendencies “ which exist inside the “ E.E.C. and in resisting the “ appeal of a Gaullist * little “ * Europe ’ ”,