Word: franchi
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Italy's M.P.s have long enjoyed a luxury in West European democracies: a secret ballot. Free to vote as they pleased, ignoring party discipline and constituents, parliamentarians often defeated their own governments on key legislation. The franchi tiratori, or snipers, were a primary cause of instability in Italian politics -- and largely responsible for the frequent changes of government. Last week the six-month-old coalition of Prime Minister Ciriaco De Mita said, "Enough...
...designed to curb tax evasion by tightening up fiscal controls on refiners and distributors of petroleum products. It seemed a small matter on which to bring down a government, but the Socialists took the defeat symbolically because it was caused by about 30 Christian Democrat Deputies, the so-called franchi tiratori, or snipers, who, although ostensibly loyal to the government, voted secretly against the measure. "Under these conditions," fumed Socialist Leader Bettino Craxi, "the country is literally ungovernable. Democracy is forced on its knees if powerful pressure groups can prevail over the will of Parliament and the general interest...