Evening star., 1963-04-28
Continued Frnnn Pal

COntlnued from rage Al
tion into the mysteries Of Ital-
ian politics is sporadic the
impression is largely a visual
one.
The Premier is an orator of
the Bel Canto school. His ges-
lures are heroic. His approach
Is aggressive.
In moments Of high emotion,
he seems in danger Of swallow
ing one Of the microphones be-
fore him.
Starting with a brisk Uiudce,
his speech ebbs to a reasonable
moderate and rises gradually
to an ear-shattering, electroniC
tortiSsimo. His cadences are
motto musicale.
While he speaks, the crowd
is well behaved, applauding
with enthusiasm ma non
troppo,
The pitch, one gathers. cen
ters on what a modern, So
cially progressive and respon-
sible group the Christian DEM
ocratic Party is, what 1t has
accomplished in building Ital-
ian prosperity and what 1t will
do in the future.
Extremists Scored
There Is biting scorn for
Italy's second-ranking Com
munist Party, who would de-
stroy democracy" in Italy, and
an almost equal condemnation
for the "reactionary" right
wing Liberals. Premier Fan
fani's avowed friends in this
election are the Social Demo-
Gratis, led by Giuseppe Saragat
His undeclared allies are the
powerful Socialists led by Pie
tro Nenni, whose continued
support he counts on heavily
There are brief and kindly
references to the Atlantic Al
lance, the European Common
Market and "Italy's place in the
world" For the most part,
however, these larger issues
have received small attention
in the course Of the election
campaign.
Indeed, the main issue that
will be decided here in the
voting tomorrow and Monday
is q purely political one. It is
also Of considerable signifi-
canoe in the light Of political
trends throughout Western
Europe and the whole Western
world.
These trends, as most observ-
ers read them, are generally
toward the left. In coming
elections in Britain, Germany
and Holland the Socialist,
Democratic or Liberal parties
are expected either to win pow
er or strengthen their positions
as they have in the United
States and Canada.
Fanfani Party Split
In Italy, the trend toward the
left has been anticipated by
Mr.. Fanfani himself by accept
ing support Of the Nenni So
cialists in forming his new
government last year. This in
turn has led to q series Of
reactions within the parties
themselves. And whether the
trend will continue or whether
Premier Fanfani himself will
survive as the leader Of the
Christian Democrats Is tn e
main issue at stake.
For all the show Of solidarity
in the Piazza del Popolo, Mr..
Fanfani's Christian Democrats
are q badly divided party. In
fact. it has never been q politi-
cal party In the normal sense.
Its membership and even its
ministers cover q wide range Of
political coloration. It is held
together first by its dominance
Of Italian politics since the war
and, second, by its open and
basic affiliation with the whole
apparatus Of the Catholic
Church.
In the elections, 1t makes
almost less difference how
many Christian Democrats are
elected than who they are. It
is expected that the party viii
lose some Of its right-wing
support to the conservative
liberals. But II these losses are
more than about 5 per cent of
its present strength Of 273
deputies, or If q strong con-
servative majority within the
party is returned. Premier Fan
fani's days as party leader
could well be numbered.
An even graver split exists
among the Nenni Socialists. A
move to wean the party from
its former close collaboration
with the Communists and bring
1t into the Democratic fold has
divided party leaders almost
evenly.
Communists Hopeful
The left wing is in open re-
volt, fearing that Nenni's
policies will lose q substantial
number Of votes to the Com
munists. Here again even q