Victory, of Sorts, in Sicily

"Attila is at the gates," thundered Ernesto Cardinal Ruffini, Archbishop of Palermo. Well, not exactly. Sicily was holding regional elections, and the Communists threatened to repeat the massive gains they had scored in Italy's national elections seven weeks ago. Red Boss Palmiro Togliatti himself was on hand to campaign. Back and forth across the island scurried hundreds of Communist squadristi (shock troops), trying to swing undecided voters.

Premier-designate Aldo Moro's Christian Democrats, having learned painfully from the April results that it does not pay to peddle anti-Communism softly, waged a tough campaign against "Khrushchev's false smiles." They could also point to Sicily's significant economic progress under their administration.

The Christian Democrats' campaign succeeded. The Reds, while keeping their place as the second largest party in Sicily (and the nation), picked up only one new seat in the 90-member regional assembly, for a total of 22. Their share of the ballots inched up to 24.8%, 1% higher than their local share in April. The free-enterprising Liberals matched their earlier success, more than doubled their representation (from two seats to five). The Christian Democrats gained three assembly seats for a new total of 37, won almost 980,000 of the 2,300,000 ballots cast, emerged with 42% of the vote, a rise of more than 3% since April and more than they had ever polled in Sicily. Wrote one Christian Democratic paper jubilantly: "We have broken the 40% barrier."

His position somewhat strengthened by the Sicily results, Aldo Moro will begin trying to put together a new coalition Cabinet based on the alliance between the Christian Democrats and the Nenni Socialists. But even if he can thus continue the "opening to left," Moro's--and Italy's--troubles will only be beginning.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.