Correspondents' Correspondence Spadolini's Weak Hand
SENIGALLIA, SILVIO F.
CooTespondents' CorresBonaence BRIEF TAKEOUTS OF MORE THAN PERSONAL INTEREST FROM LETTERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE EDITORS Spadolini's Weak Hand Rome—It is hard to understand why...
...Why there is so much enthusiasm about Spadolini being a laico (secular politician) and prevailing over the DC, rightly or wrongly described as "confessional," I cannot fathom...
...While the hyperbolic commentary keeps flowing from typewriters, other political observers here in Rome are concluding, a bit hastily perhaps, that the new government will have a short and sterile life...
...The first, Ferrucio Parri, held office from August 20 to November 24,1945...
...CooTespondents' CorresBonaence BRIEF TAKEOUTS OF MORE THAN PERSONAL INTEREST FROM LETTERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE EDITORS Spadolini's Weak Hand Rome—It is hard to understand why much of the Italian and European press continues to stress the "historic impact" of Giovanni Spadolini's rise to power...
...In fact, it strikes many people, including two journalists who are rarely in agreement—this correspondent and the man from Pravda—as merely a reflection of the Italian political scene, rather than epoch-making...
...Nor did the Prime Minister select his ministers, as mandated by the Constitution...
...Furthermore, as long as the labor unions supported by the Communists and handled gingerly by the Socialists remain intransigent, no Italian government can combat inflation—regardless Summer Schedule Publication dates: July 27, August 10 No issue August 28 Biweekly publication resumes September 7 Our offices will be closed August t-August 16 of its Prime Minister's political bent and adherence to secular principles...
...What is more, despite Spadolini's early promises, the composition of his Cabinet is not very different from that of previous Center-Left governments...
...It is indeed difficult to believe Spadolini can succeed where the DCs Francesco Cossiga and Arnaldo Forlani so conspicuously failed...
...I may be wrong on some points, but I feel strongly that I am right in believing that the new Prime Minister cannot turn—or even stem—the tide that erodes the strength of Italian governments simply because his party has always been opposed to Church interference in state affairs...
...Nevertheless, Spadolini's success in forming a new Center-Left coalition is hardly sufficiently earthshaking to warrant the overburdening of history...
...And his ascension does demonstrate that the Republic's top political post is not the prerogative of the party with the largest percentage of the vote...
...True, he is only Italy's second non-Christian Democratic (DC) Prime Minister since the end of World War II...
...he acquiesced to the choices made by the parties and party factions...
...It is also true that the Republican Party Spadolini leads received approximately 4 per cent of the ballots in the last national elections to the DCs 37 per cent...
...then in December Alcide de Gasperi launched a parade of what was to be 39 DC successors...
...Communist opposition is bound to be as relendess as usual...
...Nothing, of course, can be done about the price of oil...
...Neither can he successfully fight against corruption, whatever his own ability and honesty, when the Christian Democrats still control the Department of Justice and the Ministry of Police after having been forced out in the first place because of their involvement in the ongoing Secret Masonic Lodge scandal.—Savio F. Senioalua...
...The government's main task is to check galloping inflation by reducing labor costs and public expenditures...
...But the odds are against him...
...Some laid and Christian Democrats have been political allies since the end of the War, and they were joined by the Socialists almost 18 years ago...
...The Christian Democrats will continue to brood over the loss of the prime ministership, and Socialist leader Bettino Craxi can be counted on to pounce the moment he feels his time to take over the government has come...
...The Christian Democrats hold the most seats and head all the vital departments, except Defense...
...If the picture I have painted seems bleak, keep in mind that pessimism is a liability of witnessing and commenting professionally on a government crisis every eight months or so for many years...
...President Sandro Pertini's firm opposition to yet another early national election, and the lack of a better solution to Italy's political woes, may keep Spadolini in power longer than many now predict...
Vol. 64 • July 1981 • No. 14
