WESTERN EUROPE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00865A002300010001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 1, 1975
• Content Type: NOTES

25X1 Approved For Release 2004/09/03 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO02300010001-6
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2004/09/03 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO02300010001-6
 Approved For Release 2004/09/gRP79T00865A002300010001-6
25X1
25X1
Italy's Christian Democrats Avoid Split.
But Settle Little . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
December 1, 1975
SECRET
Approved For Release 2004/09/03 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO02300010001-6
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/09/03 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO02300010001-6
Approved For Release 2004/09/03 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO02300010001-6
 Approved For Release 2004/09/8E''UP79T00865A002300010001-6
25X1
Italy's Christian Democrats Avoid Split But
Settle Little
The leaders of Italy's Christian Democratic
Party reached a compromise at their national council
meeting last week on the contentious issue of when
to hold their party congress.
They made little progress on the more basic
questions--such as how to deal with the Communist
Party--that will be at the center of congress debate.
The congress will open on March 4, a date acceptable
to both the Christian Democratic left--led by interim
party chief Zaccagnini and Prime Minister Moro--and
the center-right group that is seeking to gain control
of the party. The latter group, which includes a
majority of the party, wanted the congress held as
soon as possible, since interim party chief Zaccagnini
is scheduled to step down at the meeting.
The center-right maintains that Zaccagnini's
tendency to encourage a "dialogue" with the Communist
opposition threatens to edge the Christian Democrats
toward broader cooperation with the Communists.
Zaccagnini was trying to delay the congress until
spring or later in order to consolidate the influence
the party left has been gaining since he took over in
July.
Perhaps the most significant development at the
council meeting was the emergence of a loose centrist
faction, consisting of some uncommitted party leaders,
such as Treasury Minister Colombo, and those like
Foreign Minister Rumor who were not firmly allied with
the two major groups vying for control. They apparently
December 1, 1975
- 3 -
Approved For Release 2004/09/9F11P79T00865A002300010001-6
 Approved For Release 2004tg/M=RDP79T00865A002300010001-6
want to work for a broadly based majority that would
include all but the extreme left and right in the
party.
Defense Minister Forlani remains the favorite to
succeed Zaccagnini. He is continuing to take steps
designed to establish his independence from the center-
right group, whose support gave his candidacy its initial
impetus. The new centrist faction seems to view Forlani
as its natural candidate, but many share the irritation
of his original supporters over his growing reluctance
to choose sides.
The Christian Democrats emerged from this latest
gathering as a party that has avoided an open split
but is still far from agreement on how to deal with
the problems that led to unprecedented Communist gains
in the elections last June.
This makes the coming congress a crucial event;
failure at that time to unite behind a new leader
and settle on a coherent policy would leave the Christian
Democrats in poor shape to compete with the Communists
in the next round of local elections this spring.
December 1, 1975
- 4 -
Approved For Release 2004/0w - r ZDP79T00865A002300010001-6
 Approved For Release 2004/09/03 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO02300010001-6
Secret
Secret
Approved For Release 2004/09/03 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO02300010001-6