Towards Centre-Left (1959-63)

Noi guardiamo con responsabile ottimismo alle prospettive della società italiana temendo soltanto la immobilità sociale, il prevalere del bisogno di sicurezza sul desiderio del nuovo, il fatto che eccessivi contrasti sociali, di per sé ricchi di fermento e legittimi, possano tuttavia ostacolare la generale accettazione di scopi comuni accolti dall’intera comunità nazionale ▾

The secretaryship of Amintore Fanfani being harshly criticized, in March 1959 Aldo Moro was elected DC secretary: an office confirmed during DC 7th congress (Florence, October 1959) and held until January 1964.

The road to centre-left was particularly troublesome, starting from Tambroni’s government (March-July 1960). Such government put a severe strain on the political situation, yet showed that the neo-Fascist support was unacceptable. The “opening to the left” was prepared during the meeting of San Pellegrino (September 1961), but most of all during the 8th party congress (Naples, January 1962), where Moro was confirmed secretary with a majority of 92%.

In the same period Moro was involved in a tight discussion with the most hostile Catholic circles, avoiding Italian politics to be directly influenced by the Church. No objection came from USA as the idea was to enlarge participation keeping Communists well out of the majority.