Word: fanfani
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...think governments should behave like good Christians. They should live with the detachment and serenity of those who know that each day which dawns can be their last." So said Italian Premier Amintore Fanfani, 53, as the last days of his government approached. For 17 months, Fanfani's Christian Democrats, who have 273 Deputies, or 26 short of a majority, have governed in parliamentary alliance with the mildly left-of-center Social Democrats (17 seats), the right-of-center Republicans (six seats), and the Liberals (18 seats), who more than any other Italian party are dedicated to free enterprise...
...Fanfani himself approved. He wanted to collapse his Cabinet in order to rebuild it on a new power base. He expects to continue his alliance with the Social Democrats and Republicans, but wants to get rid of the free-enterprising Liberals. In their place, he wants to work with Pietro Nenni's left-wing Socialists (87 seats), thereby placing Italy within sight of the long-discussed apertura a sinistra (opening to the left). The maneuver may seem hazardous, but Fanfani has his reasons...
Amid prosperity, stubborn areas of economic depression continue, and Fanfani believes that more state action is necessary to erase them. His plans, opposed by the Liberal Party but warmly supported by Nenni's Socialists, call for heavy government investment in the poverty-stricken south, stepped-up construction of schools, roads, railways...
Another factor in Fanfani's political strategy is the Roman Catholic Church, which has notably relaxed its opposition to the Italian left. Under the late Pope Pius XII, who threatened excommunication for Communist voters, bishops often took a direct hand in local politics, brought pressure not only against the Communist but against all left-wing parties. In contrast, Pope John believes that since Italy has survived its postwar crisis, there should be less political activity by the clergy. Recently, when one Christian Democrat threatened to form a right-wing Catholic party in opposition to Fanfani, the church disapproved...
Economics Professor Fanfani answered with classroom precision: "It would be dangerous to believe that the solution of present difficulties can come from unilateral action. The [Western] will to negotiate must not be mistaken for weakness." At some point amidst the amiability and the inability to reach every agreement, Khrushchev broke out in one of his flights of rocket rhetoric. "Technicians make me laugh," he said, "when they argue over the question of whether five or maybe six rockets armed with thermonuclear warheads might be needed to demolish Great Britain. We have at least twelve already pointed at that target...