Party Interior Minister had banned them. the trade unions. (PCI].
would be a series of measures to deal with the major problem such as public order and the econom naucing the proposal on 27 April Benigno Zaccugnini, the Christexplained that: "It does not seem possible to constitute a majority in the traditional sense in this legislature'. He went on to say that the only alternative was and the Crisis There were no mass marches through Italian streets this May Day. The Almost every measure taken by the Government to limit democratic rights and cut working class living standards has been enthusiastically backed by the Communist Party, the largest of the Italian workers' parties.
Last week the Government offered to come to a deal with the Communist Party over a 'plan to beat the crisis". RICHARD CARVER examines the proposed agreement and the growing opposition to the Communist Party in The leaders of Italy's Communist Party reckon that the 'historic compromise Is about to become a reality.
Last week the governing Christian Democratic party agreed to seek a common "programme of government" with other major parties including the Communists and no major party Teels confident in putting its policies to a vote For Christian Democracy the preferred solution been a revival of the old centre-left coalition with the Socialist Party, Bur the latter has been doing very well by steering course which is independent of either of the two main parties. In WELLS TO HOLD beneficiaries of a drop in the FeES vOIC In Ine clections a fortnight ago.
Until then the furthest the Government had been prepared to go in broadening its support was the office 'independent technicians', mainly elected on the Communist Party slate. up when Aldo Moro, the president of the Christian Democrats. woulf have declared himself in favour of = "programmatic" agreement with the PCI.
Many commentators saw this as a bid for Giulio Andreoti's job as Prime Minister, Whether or not that is so, the pressure on Andreotti was too great to resisr. Despite a deep-seated fear of the last June. to the Government.
municipal SUPPORT proposal to admit to has alienating the ment's attempts to Ter supportun national CUIL burenucracy. more chan POLES ships.
number of factory the arguments of the up against them.
Representatives of the The leaders of the FL.M, the that struggle participation of 'Communists' in government it is caly the PCP's support for Andretti which has kept the Government alive since The logic of the Christian Democrats' position is lo come to some more formal They certainly have little to result of Tear from the policies which the PCI will put forward. PCI deputies have abstained in the Chamber on every important issue, hence giving tact support In recent weeks one parts somersp Da: become increasingly aware of oppositon among the party taur and file, particularly in the Democrats.
-In less than a year the PCI has backed increase of up to 50 per cent in basic goods and food stuffs, reweighting of the cost of living index and a freeze on the wages of higher paid workers, It compromise support abortion on demand for fear of Catholic vote Most recently in has given ful some support to the Govern restore violence agninst student strug ales. The interior Minister ha: threnrened that police will open fire on violent demonstrations the recent studens struggles. Now call for a assembly of factory One FLM official explained: - The leaders of the confederation (the COlL) cannot presume to Impose their unity from the tap down. Either they respect the line worked out in the assemblies of we, as intermediaty leaders, wit not consider ourselves bound by TOR CENSICS THE HEHE These themes were repeated at the Lirico Theatre memma. But there were dangers in such posi bons It remains to he seen how far the FLM leaders will commit theisolves to a highr nazirst the At the momcat they are calling for little 'consultation' and perfectly healthy call for the independence of the unions from poutica! parties too casily becomes an excuse for got Fighting the pollilcal betrayal of the union leaderINADEQUATE I60 0Y But if "protest is not adequate delegates on a fight inside the linions was correct. They rejected order.
*autonolenders could simply be ignored and hy-passed. As long as these carry on as the ponpemen of the Andrcott Covernment's attacks, any fight to defend living standards will run It is too early to tell what will be the impact of the call for a assembly of factory councils. Bur an important poliunderway Aller the 19oy strike wave the noions retreated from the openty political role they had played in DISHESTOR ment with the Communist Pa The PCI supports him.
Disillusionment with these policies canse to a hend with the 10 per cent fall in the party's vote in the reccat municipal clections. PCI candidotes tried to explain how the decline in puhlic services municipalities cuts in Government spending over which they had no When it is considered That the party has cacao septon ed every economic measure and ras even extolled the sirrues a "austerity" as an agent of "social change', ir is hardly surprising thar voters were not convinced After all, if you are going to bave Christian Democratic policies why not vote loe the Christian The promise of a programmatic deal therefore comes an a feline to the PCI general secrelary Enrico Herlinguer. There s no doubt That milions of workers sored for his historic joint government with the Christian Democrats because they genuinel san it as the first step toward socialism. Much of the recent disconcent has been because they chink chat the PCI is giving too much support to the Government with nothing poming back in Workers have seen their party Giscard totters THE WAIT AND SEE' policy of the French Socialist and Communiat Partles may nol last much longer. The Gouemment only survived inst Thursday's vole of contidence by the personal intervention of Jacques Chirac — its main right-wing opponent.
Legislative elections may be called sooner than 1978.
The vote was over the lalest instalmant Prime Minister The package cited a la which was strongly opposed by the Gauilists. The attack on Barre Glacard strategy of a EMBARRASSED Government of tachniciana was Prime Minister Michel Debra. Chirc. the Gaullis!
leader and new mayor of Paris and himself a formar Prime Minister was called trom the town hall to bring about some semblance of The vote want in lavout of the Govemment with only a handful Gaulliste advice and abataining.
boin had baen mado. Giscard B on the support of the hard-line The rift batween Giscard'a Independent Republicans and the some months. At a time when the and French society under the impaot of the GovernIt is no coincidenoe that the came at the moment when Melian riot police on the rem policing the Government's tacks on wages, conditions a emplesment in the Chamber an in the unions. Many workers a beginning to see chis as Incritable product of clast co Laborarionist policies But Helusine believe that the problem is th the historic compromise has t been properly carried out. APPEASE It is the latter group Berlinguer bopes to appease b the latest deal. But he still h two big problems. The first that the new agreement will n mean a change in Governme policies in favour of the work class. On the contrary it will gi leeway to resolve their econom -crisis at the expense of worki people.
The other problem is th many workers who stil acce the historic compromise a signal to step up their o their jobs and pay packets a ațrucks rights. And that, of course, is n at all what Signor Berlinguer it mind.
ere published - 0,9 par be atre's claim that there would: only 6.5 per cent intiation by the end of the year was shown to be well into double figures once again Equerly lt is no coincidence that the result came on the same pubile sector was brought 10 hait by workers deman ing в год taration of outs, wages and jobs ENTEE TOO THE ORGAUL DO anything to fight joblessness in a country warkers join the dole queue every day More and more workers fee Govemment swept away, but the parties of the embarrassed a they were after their recent victory in the munici year their slogan has bean: Wa for the fogislative alecions l 197฿ The Communist Party must bi gains accentuates Its advance stated a party's daliy paper the day afte the Union of the Latt's massive Party Francois Mitterand continues 1o only alternative to the Barre ple