ABSTRACT: The P.R. proposes to the laity, the Republicans and the Socialists a clear alternative to the DC.

The full text of the resolution unanimously approved by the Party's central committee meeting on December 7-8.

This resolution marked the beginning of the Radical battle throughout the country for an alliance of the democratic, lay and Socialist forces.

(IL RADICALE, No. 1, March 2, 1957)

"The Radical Party's Central Committee, meeting in Turin, December 8, 1956, points out that a new political situation is beginning to take shape in the country. As a result of the rapid developments on the international scene, and in the face of upset consciences and uncertain opinions, all the old political alliances are in crisis. The long and irrepressible travail of the Communists, the proclaimed independence of the Italian Socialist Party, and the disintegration of the right-wing political formations, have broken the immovable equilibrium of past years: for constantly growing masses of citizens the only prospect of freedom and progress is connected to those non-Communist and non-clerical forces alone which are devoted - within all abuses of minority privileges - to the defence of the general interest, the republican Constitution and the popular, liberal and lay nature of the Italian state.

To the general renewal coinciding with the debacle of the Communist system, which events have proven to be incapable of understanding the deep need of freedom and democracy of the popular masses, the privileged groups oppose an increasingly insidious defence of their own interests, sheltering behind the conservative politics of the Christian Democrats and making ready for tomorrow the new bulwarks, which consist of the combined forces of the monarchist, Fascist and pseudo-liberal right wing. It would be a mistake to oppose this closed class policy with another closed class coalition in potential revolt against democratic ordinances. Only collaboration between the middle class, released from their subordination to monopolistic groups, and the working class forces can give new stability and vigour to our democracy.

The Radical Party is convinced that the time is ripe for clarifying the forces of the Italian democratic left. Not even the unification of the Socialists, which raised such high hopes, but also found so many obstacles along its path, cannot by itself solve the problems of renewal in our country. The boundaries must be widened to a broader field of forces and experience. The threat of involution is looming over all aspects of our national life. A decisive thrust towards a new politics can only be given by the joint effort of all the democratic left which will commit - while respecting the full autonomy of ideals and traditions - the Socialists and the lay and democratic parties, movements and groups, capable of representing the interests and aspirations of millions of workers, farmers, artisans, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, office workers, professional people and those in the field of culture.

For the sake of initiating a debate to create a broad consensus, the Radical Party here indicates some points for joint action which can constitute a meeting point for democratic and Socialist forces:

1) Full actuation of the rights of freedom enunciated in the Constitution and the elimination of the residues of Fascist laws which today still subject the citizens to the arbiters of executive power.

2) Opposition to clerical interference in the most sensitive sectors of the nation's life; defence of the lay character of the state; protection of religious minorities.

3) Actuation of modern anti-monopolistic legislation which will put all operators in equivalent starting points for the acquisition of riches; nationalisation of energy sources.

4) An economic policy of full employment and increased income, especially in the country's depressed areas, to be implemented by the compression of superfluous expenditures, the elimination of excess profits of monopolies and economic trends, the limiting of increases in the income and social security contributions of workers with jobs in favour of those who are unemployed or under-employed.

5) A European-unity based foreign policy aimed at the strengthening and broadening of Western solidarity.

The Central Committee maintains that through an understanding among all the forces of the democratic left, and in particular of the Italian Radical, Republican, Social Democratic and Socialist parties, one can arrive at concrete political action capable of corresponding to the expectations which public opinion is expressing more and more clearly.