Italian Govt to force vital vote

Press, 28 August 1980, Page 6

Italian Govt to force vital vote

NZPA-Reuter Rome ’‘ltaly’s five-month-old Government was to try to force controversial economic Measures through Parliament today by seeking two votes of confidence. ’’The two measures, designed to cut inflation and to help the economically backward south, were introduced in July as decrees. This meant they, took imthediate effect but had to be (debated and- approved by Parliament within two pfimths. ■>The deadline looming, opposition parties including the 'Communists, Radicals, and the neo-fascist Italian Social 'Movement tabled more than 1400 amendments designed to ensure that time would run out- and the decrees lapse. The Prime Minister (Mr Francesco Cossiga) yesterday offered opposition Raders a deal by which certain amendments would -be agreed to '.if the decrees as a whole were approved.

The Social Movement; alone refused this offer, and Mr Cossiga raised the stakes in an increasingly bitter dis-

pute by announcing confidence votes both on the decrees and on the legality of his method of . forcing them through. The three-party coalition of Christian Democrats, Socialists and Republicans enjoys a comfortable majority in the Lower House, so the Government’s survival does not seem in doubt.

But although Mr Cossiga will get his majorities many Italians have expressed alarm at this increasing tendency to rule by decree and vote of confidence.

Besides more predictable criticisms, the Social Democratic . deputy Carlo Vizzini, whose party is generally close to Government thinking, said yesterday that the latest manoeuvre “presented again in all its gravity the image of an executive not up to the task of government.” One of the economic measures, aimed at increasing Government income, raises value-added taxes on many goods. The other gives about $3.65 billion. in aid to the south and to ailing industries.