Without a Government

Despite the drubbing his Socialist Party took at the polls three weeks ago, Socialist Leader Pietro Nenni saw no alternative to limping back into the Center Left coalition with the Christian Democrats for another five-year term. The party, however, had other ideas for regaining working-class support and recovering its voting losses. Overriding Nenni, Socialist delegates voted to stay out of the Center Left alliance until the Christian Democrats gave a firm commitment to carry out the leftist reforms in housing conditions, higher education and social welfare that they had promised--but not delivered--in the previous government.

Such a course would not quite leave Italy ungoverned, for the 91 Socialist Deputies say that they are prepared to vote on major issues with the minority Christian Democratic administration. Then, if the Christian Democrats come through with more social and economic reforms, the Socialists promise they will consider returning to the fold at their party congress next October. Center Left Leader Aldo Moro thus far has refused to govern with a Socialist pistol at his head, so last week President Guiseppe Saragat began seeking a more willing candidate--or a better solution to the deadlock.

Ironically, the government crisis confronting Saragat is at least partly of his own making. The former Social Democratic leader was reportedly so vexed with the poor electoral showing of his old party--now merged with the Socialists--that he actively backed dissident members who wanted to stay out of the coalition. Saragat apparently feels that Nenni made too many concessions to the Christian Democrats and is thus responsible for the Socialists' lack of success.

The new government must be strong enough to deal with spreading student unrest and labor agitation for better working conditions. And lurking in the shadows is the Communist Party, strengthened by votes from disgruntled Socialists in the last elections and more than willing to step into the breach. Moro himself regards an alliance with the Communists as unthinkable, but more leftist Christian Democrats see it as a way out of the dilemma. Despite the Communist specter, the Socialists seem determined to hold out on the Christian Democrats, defying all of Nenni's pleas to cooperate. Explained Socialist Luigi Mariotti, Minister of Health in the outgoing Cabinet: "The Christian Democrats must be punished for the disgraceful way they have abused the policies we agreed on."

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