REACTIONARY PLOY FAILS
The results of the referendum can be explained basically by two factors, one structural, the other political. During the post twenty years Italy has been shaken by a mass rural exodus, by internal and international emigration. This has resulted in very deep changes in morals and mental attitudes -_ even among the most backward layers, which have experienced a rise (at least relatively) in their cultural level. Also, the country as a whole, including the most disparate social layers, has been deeply affected by the rise of the workers movement since 1968, an upsurge that hos not yet run its course. Those who wanted to drive that upsurge back have had to recognize that their undertaking was unrealizable. To explain the more conjunctural significance of the referendum results, we publish below the editorial printed in the May 20 issue of Bandiera Rossa, organ of the Gruppi Comunisti Rivoluzionari (Revolutionery Communist Groups), Italian section of the Fourth International. INPRECOR ening the executive in an unfavorable situation. On the other hand, should the Communist party be brought into the government orbit, or even directly into the government itself, that would not offer a real prospect for political truce, not to mention social truce. Nor would it lead to stabilization, given the pressing character of the problems of employment Rome, night of May 12. Youth greet referendum results. 15
THE