ITALIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 27-28 APRIL 1955

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T01172R000300060001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 10, 2006
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 6, 1955
• Content Type: MEMO

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CCI No. 3347/55 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Copy No. OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGRNCE
3.. ~ 6 April 1955
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To: Deputy Director (Intelligence).
SUBJECT: Italian presidential election of 27-28 April 1955
1. Office to be filled: Presidency of the republic.
2. Parties or factions participating: All parties, inasmuch
as the pres ent is elected by the two houses of parliament
meeting together. The constitution also calls for regional
participation in the election, but parliament has not yet
acted to set up 15 of the 19 regional councils and this
requirement will probably be dispensed with.
3. Outstanding Personalities: The leading contenders are:
Luigi Einaudi
Gaetano Martino
Giuseppe Pella
Giovanni Gronchi
Cesare Merzagora
Present incumbent; a Liberal,
with monarchist leanings.
Foreign minister; a Liberal.
President of Social Democratic
group in the Chamber of Deputies.
A former premier, currently
president of the Coal-Steel Com-
munity (CSC) Assembly; a Chris-
tian Democrat; acceptable to-
Christian Democrats'' right wing
and probably to the Monarchists.
President of Chamber of Deputies;
a Christian Democrat; acceptable
to part of Christian Democrats'
left wing and possibly to the
Nenni Socialists.
President of the Senate; member
of Christian Democratic center
faction.
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4. Present party strengths:
Number of Seats in parliament
(Chamber and Senate combined)
Communists
(199)
Nenni Socialists
(105)
Left Splinter
(1)
Center
428
Christian Democrats
(381)
Social Democrats
(23)
Republicans
(7)
Liberals
(17)
Right
94
Monarchists
(56)
Neo-Fascists
(38)
Life Senators
6
5. Principal issues: The only specific issue involved is
the continuation othe, quadripartite coalition.
6. Principal factors influencing the outcome: Conflicting
interests o the center parties are t e principal-factors.
Election of a Liberal or a Social Democrat would imply con-
tinuation of the present quadripartite coalition government,
while the election of a Christian Democrat would probably
revive charges that the Christian Democrats are seeking a
political monopoly or embarking on a search for new alliances.
7. Background: The first presidential electionwas held
on 10-11 May 1948. Einaudi was elected on the fourth ballot
with 518 votes. His closest competitor, a Communist-supported
former premier of pre-Mussolini days, polled 329 votes. On
the first two ballots, the contest was between a Christian
Democratic-sponsored Republican, the then foreign minister
Sforza, and a Communist-sponsored Liberal candidate. Sforza
dropped out of the race between the second and third ballots
when the Social Democrats unexpectedly withdrew their support.
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On the third ballot, the Christian Democrats and the small
center parties switched to Einaudi, with the Communists
casting blank ballots.
8. Informed opinion on outcome: Prevailing opinion is that
Einau i =W1 be re-elected on the fourth ballot, when a
simple majority will suffice as compared to the two-thirds
majority required on the first three ballots. This opinion
based on the belief that none of the government parties wishes
to upset the political equilibrium at this time. Einaudi's
age, 81 years, may stand in the way of his re-election.
Should a deadlock develop, a dark horse victory would be a
real possibility. In any case, the victor will almost
centainly be from one of the center parties.
9. Significance for US security interests: The president
of Italy serves as a symbol of national unity; his political
importance is limited to his personal influence and to his
role in nominating potential premiers for parliamentary
approval.
If Einaudi remains in office, he will undoubtedly continue
to co-operate with the United States. Any other successful
candidate of the center parties would probably seek to main-
tain good relations with the United States and to continue
Italy's pro-western orientation. However, a political deal
involving support from the extreme right or left might
adversely affect United States security interests.
HUNTINGDON D. SHELDON
Assistant Director
Current Intelligence
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