DE GASPERI MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN RIGHT ON LEFT TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005294627
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 4, 2009
• Case Number: F-2008-01348
• Publication Date: July 2, 1953

fb1111
(b)(3)
2 July 1953
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
?fl
APPROVED FOR
oor
-i o-aep-zuuo
oo~
 -Top sEef~ET
DE GASPERI MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN RIGHT OR LEFT TO FORM
. A NEW GOVERNMENT
The Italian Christian Democrats face the problem of
collaborating with either the right or the left to achieve
the coalition they need to form a new government when parlia-
ment reconvenes this fall. The De Gasperi coalition cabinet
resigned on 29 June and then received parliamentary author-
ization to function as a provisional administration through
31 August.
A further move to the right by the government in the fall
would probably widen the social and economic cleavage indicated
in the results of the 7-8 June national elections. This would
tend to precipitate serious labor disturbances and could weaken
Italy?s capacity to contribute to Western European defense.
Strong pressure is being exerted on De Gasperi to ally his
Christian Democratic Party with the Monarchists. Agitation is
also afoot to replace him, should he reject such an alliance,
with Piccioni, a right-wing Christian Democrat who was De
Gasperi?s vice premier. A Christian Democratic-Monarchist.
alliance would almost inevitably open the way to neo-Fascist
participation in government policy, The Monarchists and neo-
Fascists are closely associated, and for the 1951-52 local
elections were electorally linked in many districts.
The impressive leftist gains in the recent elections have
indicated a widespread desire not for Communism, but for a
Socialist alternative to both Communism and neo-Fascism. Labor,
for instance, was overwhelmingly against the Christian Demo
crats because of the De Gasperi government?s half-hearted and
belated moves to fulfill its promises for social reforms. The
formation of a government including the rightists, who oppose
these promises, could be expected to provoke aggressive labor
reaction.
 Both American and Italian observers have pointed out that
the two strongest elements of Italian life are catholicism and
socialism, and that a stable government must represent not. only
the 40.7 percent who voted for the Christian Democrats, but
also the 41.3 percent who voted for social reform.
In order to avoid being driven into a rightist alliance,
De Gasperi wishes to retain the support of the Democratic
Socialists, who quit the cabinet in 1950 because of right-wing
Christian Democratic domination but nevertheless continued to
back the government in parliament. Because the party was
almost demolished in the last election as a result of its
association with the Christian Democrats and the unpopular
electoral law, party leaders are loath to continue this support
unless the government is broadened to include the other social-
ist parties, particularly the Nenni Socialists. Democratic
Socialist leader Saragat is apparently determined not to support
a rightist government, and should one be formed, De Gasperi
would probably be deprived of his last element of moderate
leftist support
Since the election, the Nenni Socialists have offered to
support the Christian Democrats and to participate in a De
Gasperi government. Although Nenni has not indicated anyin-
tention to relax his part ?s opposition to Western European.
integration programs,
g6E'F