PRINCIPLE REASONS FOR FAILURE OF ITALIAN CENTER PARTIES TO WIN A MAJORITY IN THE RECENT ITALIAN ELECTIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000100280009-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 24, 1998
• Sequence Number: 9
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/09/12 : CIA-RDP80R01443R000100280009-3
'LINCIPAL REASONS r'OR FAILU., E OF
ITALIAN CENTER PARTIES TO IN
MriJORITY IN THE RECENT ITALIAN ELECTIONS
General: Failure of DC Party in past five vearg
to overcome hnormous difficulties im o d
by sort sigrTed oppos rrom e right
wing in us r a s s w in its own party and
the rightist parties, and the deliberate and
constant obstructicnism from the extreme left;
fa+1~re. to bring about badly needed social, fiscal,
and governmental reforms. The PCI was able
to take credit for much that was done, claiming
it had forced the concessions from a reluctant
government.
1. Election-Law, o "Swindle Lawry
_rnug_t badly needed cohesion and fighting
snirit to rank and file of T'CI. S
-..'nlit PF`I and PLI, some of whose leaders
refused to go along with the law.
-,-.iienated many otherwise center sympathizers
and strong anti-communists, for example, the
widely read satirical paper "Candido."
- "rovided an authentic basis for attacking the
DC party as being undemocratic.
2. Lack of Permanent party s--(DC,
erals, Fepublicans, and Saragat Socialists)
which can translate the daily life and interests
of the average person into political values.
This meant the campaign orcanizations were
forced to rely largely on imnrcv.sation. Con-
versely, this is the greatest strength of the
PCI as a political force, as well as of the MSI.
isin tide of social discontent in Ita as
elsewhere in the wor .
Although politically Italy responds well to
democratic processes--almost 94% of the
electorate voted in June--socially it still
retains many of the influences and usages of
feudalism.
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25X1C10b
industrialized north has been in social ferment
since the turn of the century.
Feudal scuth, where wealthy landowners have in
na.st practically "owned" thepolitical support
of their down trodden farm workers (for
'4onarchist party) was for the first time
strongly breached by the left. The center
parties all lost ground in this area.
hussian "peace offensive" and Churchill s eec .
'Peace offensive" made possible aaophion of
sheep's clothing.
Churchill advocacy of rapprochement with iussia
gave extremists effective ammunition against
lie Gasperi's Atlantic Pact, ELC,, 9ATO, pro-
U.s. rolicies.
5. L,ivalries in some areas between local center
candidates - primary and general election held
together - resulting in splitti_. of center
vote and victory o opr~es ion candi a es.
pro a 1 we over 5O%, of electorate, and
weakness of non-clerical center parties.
:swindle law seemed, and was, calculated to
perpetuate DO control over center minors,
driving many voters to extreme parties to
express anti-clericalism.
to Jugoslavia.
8. Basic anti-clericalismcf large r centage
6. Failure of government to cope with une two men t,
particularly in providing jobs or youth.
7. Failure arrive at satisfactory solution Trieste
question--attendant concern over U.S. .support
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lo. Uncertainty over strengtr of isolationist senti-
.nent in U.S., and consequent mistrust of validity
of ;~merican world leadership. 'Contributing to
this uncertainty:
Deep cuts portended in foreign aid and defense
spending, with talk of more to come.
Tndi3criminate investigation of overseas
activities.
hestrictive U.S. immigration and entry rolicies.
~xlt~remi~ t parties berated De Gasperi govt fT
its subservience to U.S.
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