Historic experiment in Italian politics

Press, 13 August 1976, Page 5

Historic experiment in Italian politics

NZPA-Reuter Rome Italy has embarked on a historic experiment — Government with Communist consent. the Associated Press reports. To win his final vote of confidence on Wednesday,! the Prime Minister (MrGuilio Andreotti) had to leave the back door of power! open with concessions to the , Communists which will leave: their mark on Italian politics] for months to come. For the first time in 29 x ears, the Communist Party j switched its vote from oppo-! sition to the Christian: Democrats to abstention. But the price has been sol

s high as to make the i Christian Democrat win in - the June 20 election appear t almost as a pyrrhic victory. i Since June, the Communists have garnered the f prestigious presidency of J the Chamber of Deputies, r the presidency of four Charn- > ber and three Senate comrimissions, and the mayorship ;jof the city of Rome. : Behind the scenes. Comdmunist Party members are reaching for posts in dozens I;of Government - controlled •{agencies and organisations. • ! These include the State-run 11 social-security system and other welfare agencies, the J Government radio and tele-

vision monopoly, and various State bus enterprises. The Communist leader, Mr Enrico Berlinguer, views the Andreotti Government as a transition towards his final goal, a historic compromise in sharing power with the Christian Democrats. The Christian Democrat Party’s secretary (Mr Benigno Zaccagnini) also views the government as a transition — but back to the old centre-Left formula bringing the Socialists, Republicans, and Christian Democrats into a ruling alliance. The United States and some of its Western allies openly favour this formula.