Italian vote hits Vatican

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33534, 15 May 1974, Page 13

Italian vote hits Vatican

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) ROME, May 14. Hundreds of thousands of Italians paraded through cities last night to celebrate an overwhelming referendum vote to retain the country’s three-year-old divorce laws. The processions also underlined a stinging defeat for the dominant political party, the Christian Democrats, and the Roman Catholic Church, which has left Italy’s political future uncertain. The pro-divorce vote was also a great victory for the Italian Communists who campaigned fervently for the retention of

the laws. Many of the marchers called out: “Communism shall conquer." Others chanted “Fanfani cuckold” and “Fanfani stick it up,” in reference to the Christian Democratic Party Secretary (Mr Amintor Fanfani). The demonstrators, generally good-humoured, also burnt millions of leaflets which had urged Italians to vote for the abrogation of the divorce laws. But in some places the celebrations ended violently. In Naples, Leftist and Rightist youths fought with iron bars and sticks. In nearby Salerno, the police fired tear gas to disperse others. At least six were injured in the two incidents.

In Milan. Leftists charged the offices of a Right-wing labour union and set them ablaze, in nearby Bergamo, where abolitionists carried the vote, Leftists stoned the building of a Catholic newspaper.

Altogether 59.1 per cent of the voters answered

“No” to the question: Did they want an end to divorce? This was despite intensive campaigning during the past four weeks by the Christian Democrats who had pressed for the referendum.

It was also a bad blow to the Catholic Church, which had told its members — virtually evert one of Italy’s 56 million people — that they were in conscience bound to vote to repeal the divorce laws.

The Christian Democrats and the Church had invoked curious arguments to back their stance: that keeping divorce would bring in the Communists, destroy the unity of the Italian family, and pave the way to legalised abortion, homosexual marriages and an upsurge of lesbianism.

Yet even in Southern Italy, considered an antidivorce stronghold, several centres voted to retain the law. or came up with only small anti-divorce majorities.

The knives are now being sharpened in Christian Democrat ranks for Mr Fanfani, until now the most power! ul man in Italy, who is held directly responsible for the defeat. But it is difficult to see who can replace him.