Evening star., 1955-07-03
By GRAHAM HovEY

landowner has taken On the din
cult task Of restoring unity to
Italy's democratic forces and big.
gest political party.
Antonio Segni, Christian Demo-
cratic member Of the Chamber Of
Deputies and former minister OF
agriculture and public instruction,
will have his work cut out for him.
but he comes to the job with major
assets.
He Is well-liked by all segments
Of his own, faction-ridden party.
The other parties that have helped
make UP Italy's democratic coali-
tion--the Social Democrats. uber-
ais and Republicans-are also
favorably disposed toward him.
Even the left-wing Socialists OF
Pietro Nenni, who rarely deviate
from the communist line, have
said nice things about Segni on oc-
casion, because Of his advocacy Of
social and economic reforms.
This course was long resisted by
former Italian premiers. who feared
the parties close to the Communist
extreme.
Thus. Segni seems to be the logi-
cal man 10 attempt ut least mild
"opening to the left" the political
course long advocated by 1taly's
new President, Giovanni Gronchi.
and Amintore Fanfani. secretary
Of the Christian Democratic party.
Same Worrisome Lineup
eeRni viii face the same party
lineup in Parliament that has
caused headaches for every italian
premier since the 1853 elections
failed to return . workable major
tty for the four democratic center
parties. When they can keep their
lines intact to Q man in the Cham
ber Of Deputies, the Christian DEM
ocrats, Social Democrats, Liberals
and Republicans can command only
303 votes out Of 590-hardly COM
Portable margin. The Nenni Social
lists have Is votes, usually cast In o
bloc with the 143 Of the Commu-
nistS.
segni may hope on occasion to
ease his parliamentary situation by
attracting votes from the Nenni
Socialists with his reform programs.
But he could not carry such efforts
too far before incurring opposition
from his own party's right wing, as
well as from some Liberals.
Aside from his parliamentary
problem, Segni faces the formidable
task Of reconstructing the badly
split democratic coalition and Of
reuniting majority and minority
factions Of the Christian Democrats.
For regardless Of surface appear
ances, the democratic coalition has
been divided and in crisis ever since
the election Of Gronchi April 20.
That election, in which the demo-
cratic parties failed to agree on q
candidate and went of in several
different directions, brought serious
trouble for the government Of
Premier Mario Scelba.
SoIt in Wounds
The Sicilian regional election Of
June only rubbed salt in the
wounds. The Christian Democrats
refused to modify the election law
In a way that would have helped
the other democratic parties. These
minor parties consequently lost con-
siderable ground, while the Chris
tian Democrats were gaining seven
new seats in the Sicilian regional
assembly.
After that, 1t now seems evident,
Scelba's painstaking efforts to pre-
serve the democratic coalition while
reshufiling his cabinet were doomed.
Scelba not only had the bitter re-
sentiment Of the minor democratic
parties to contend with; he had
powerful members Of his own party
working overtime to bring him
down.
These anti-Scelba Christian Dem
ocrats, q right-wing minority, saw
their chance when the tiny Repub-
lican Party refused to participate
In Q revamped Scelba cabinet.
They argued that without full
participation Of all four demo-
cratic parties, Scelba's reorganiza-
tion plan was not feasible. The
party's directorate finally agreed.
This decision forced Scelba to re-
sign.
It Is this muddled situation which
Antonio Segni inherited last week.
It would be hazardous to speculate
how he will make out, but there
are certain factors in his favor, as
already noted.
Unity Restored?
Much Of the opposition to Scelba
inside his own party was more per-
sonal that theological. Thus, even
though Segni Is known as o mod
crate reformer, he probably will be
able to command support from the
AAu-SNCAbu, 1ASAO-W1IlS mlIlOTlty,
especially II he gives some of its
members cabinet jobs.
In short. restoration Of at least
temporary unity to the Christian
Democratic party seems likely.
More difficult will be the restora-
ton Of the democratic coalition.
The Social Democrats. Liberals
and Republicans have seen their
strength cut down in each success
i've postwar election. They blame
this situation on their attempts to
collaborate with the Christian
Democrats. They say. not without
some Justification, that the big
Catholic party either blocks their
proposals within the coalition or
claims credit for them when they
are enacted.
II they should deny Segni their
participation, 1t would not be be-
cause OF opposition to the man or
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