Crisis talks in Italy

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34047, 10 January 1976, Page 13

Crisis talks in Italy

(X.Z. Press Assn — copyright; ROME, January y. Crucial meetings of Christian Democratic and Communist leaders were expected to shed some light today on Italy’s political future, shrouded by deep clouds of uncertainty after the resignation of Prime Minister Aldo Moro’s coalition Cabinet. The separate talks of leaders of the country’s largest parties were the first major political events since Mr Moro stepped down on Wednesday after the withdrawal of the Marxist Socialists’ support in Parliament for the Government. General expectations are that Christian Democrats and [Communists will uphold the positions outlined by their party organs — the Communists seeking a role in a new Government and Mr Moro’s Christian Democrats rejecting any form of collaboration with’them. There is speculation, however, that both parties could tone down their stand, with the Christian Democrats accepting some form of dialogue with the Communists and the latter postponing their official participation in talks on Government policies.

Otherwise, many say. the ! crisis will lead inevitably to the only solution all parties have criticised so far — the dissolution of Parliament one year early and elections within 70 days. President Giovanni Leone is also reported to be against such a decision. He dissolved Parliament in 1972 in the wake of a similar row' between Catholics and Marxists over Communist association in the Government. The Communists do not: want the early elections, although they are expected to, score considerable gains, be-| cause they feel they can do even better in 1977 after an-, other year of economic stagnation. Meanwhile, they have ■

taken over the administration of all the major Italian cities except Rome through local elections last year which gave them one-third of the turnout, just two percentage points less than the slumping ■ Christian Democrats. The Communists plan to (win a Marxist majority with the Socialists in the capital from local elections this spring. The Christian Democrats hope to step up industrial production and the whole economy through a SUS3Om [investment plan presenting ■the country in 1977 with a brighter picture of their ad ministration than they could I today. The plan, which the Socialists say was drawn up with out consulting them, was another issue that prompted the [crisis. 1 President Leone has very .few alternatives before him. [besides elections. He could ask Mr Moro to stay on through the consentions of the Socialists, early in Feb[ruary ,and Christian Demo Icrats, one month later, but he could also demand that Parliament come up with a vote of confidence in an effort to keep the Cabinet alive Should this fail, he could seek a caretaker government, possibly an al!-Christian De mocratic minority Cabinet, to work its way at least through local elections this summer or possibly up to the national elections in 1977.