Shift to the Left

"We shall certainly have some sleepless nights." With these words, Italian Premier Amintore Fanfani last week led his ruling Christian Democratic Party into a new phase of postwar politics. Concluding a five-day congress in Naples' rococo San Carlo opera house, some 2,000 delegates approved the party's apertura a sinistra (TIME, Jan. 12), the long-discussed collaboration with the left-wing Socialists.

Behind the shift was Fanfani's urge to find new parliamentary backing for an ambitious program of social and economic reforms. Despite Italy's vast new prosperity, millions south of Rome still live in desperate poverty. Fanfani wants public-works projects, stricter taxes and more schools. But the Christian Democrats were 26 seats short of a parliamentary majority (total number of seats: 596), had to govern with the support of smaller parties, and Fanfani's projects were blocked by the government's own allies, notably the conservative, free-enterprising Liberals. Hence Fanfani's decision to abandon the Liberals, instead cooperate with the left-wing Socialists, who favor his proposals.

Immediately after last week's Christian Democratic congress, Fanfani offered his resignation as Premier to President Giovanni Gronchi, who will probably ask him to form a new government this week. Unlike the old, entirely Christian Democratic Cabinet, the new one will include other parties. Among the likely new members: Giuseppe Saragat, leader of the right-wing Socialists, who may be Foreign Minister; Ugo La Malfa, boss of the moderately leftist Republican Party, who may be Finance Minister. Not in the Cabinet but supporting the new government will be Pietro Nenni's left-wing Socialists, whose support Fanfani feels he needs for Italy's "democratic development."

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