Italy's 55th post-war government was brought down last week when
the ruling Socialist Party, in power for less than 17 months, was
unable to push through cuts to pensions and welfare which it
argued were critical for Italy to meet the necessary requirements
for it to adopt the common European currency. Prodi s government,
like those across Europe, has been escalating the anti-social
offensive of the European monopolies. This development is a
setback for the monopolies of Europe who are hoping to establish
the European Union with its common currency by the year 1999.
Prodi's resignation came after a week of parliamentary
debate over his 1998 budget, which sought to trim pensions by
$3.6 billion Cdn. Prodi's coalition fell short of a majority in
the Chamber of Deputies, so it had to rely on gaining the support
of the Refoundation Communist Party's votes, which won eight per
cent of the vote in the 1996 election. The RCP did not vote with
the government on this issue.
Italian President Scalfaro asked Prodi to stay on as
caretaker while he consults with political leaders on forming a
new government. While it is still possible that a new government
can be formed without another election, Prodi's deputy premier,
Walter Veltroni told reporters that he did not see any way out
other than another election, the third in six years.
TML DAILY, 10/97
Shawgi Tell
Graduate School of Education
University at Buffalo
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
