Rome Communists ‘have reached threshold of power’

Press, 8 March 1978, Page 9

Rome Communists ‘have reached threshold of power’

|INZPA-Reuter Rome Italy’s Communists say they have reached the threshold of power by joining a Parliamentary majority that would back a new Christian Democratic Government.

The Prime Minister-desig-nate (Mr Giulio Andreotti) I yesterday pressed ahead [with his efforts to pave the | way for the new minority government, meeting tradeunion leaders on his plans for anti-inflationary wage restraint. He will see industry leaders and meet representatives of all six parties involved in the planned majority backing for his Administration. The Communists’ leader, Mr Enrico Berlinguer, said of the present state of Italian politics: “The arrival of the working class and its or-

-,ganisations at the direction) )iof society and the State is J now on the agenda. I “Exactly because we have -i reached this threshold, the j opposition is more bitter - and the traps are more nus merous and dangerous. s “Having reached this stage on our journey, we cannot - withdraw or turn back. We s must ... go forward.” i He said he hoped the - party chiefs would agree today to a government sup- , ported, stimulated and con--1 trolled by a majority which - would prove different from f pro-government majorities in - the past.

i His interpretation of the majority plan goes further tha.i that of the Christian Democrats who favour a parliamentary pact based on a limited programme.

But the Christian Democrats have offered to accept a multi-party committee which would monitor the future Cabinet’s performance.

At his meeting with the union leaders, Mr Andreotti' explained how the wagerestraint programme would be carried out in exchange for promises of investment in new jobs.