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In some of Europe's capitalist states it is regarded-especially among the bourgeoisie and pettymate mark of success, to be asked to be Prime Minister.

But not in Italy.

There, to become Prime Minister is to be almost certain of failure and to be in need of another job very soor.

Italy. has been without a government with parliamentary sanctions for six months.

Failed After the June election, Christian Democrat Guilio Andreotti tried to form a government and failed.

The President then took the unusual step of asking Socialist Party leader Bettino Craxi to form a government.

The squabbling Christian Democrats refused to support him. So he, too, failed.

So did Christian Democrat Finance Minister Pandolfi, who tried next.

Three down-how many to go? Most bourgeois political commentators are now saying that if the next effort is a failure the President may have no alternative but to admit that the parliamentary system is in a complete impasse and -try to buy time by calling yet another general election.

Berlinguer Sor tini gn.

reports sug est lat Per himself threa ened to res Majority the next Prime Minister, who has now tormed a government and looks forward to a Parliamentary majority of 40, appears to bear a heavy responsibility on behalf of the Italian capitalist class.

His name is Francesco Cossiga.

His main claim to political fame is failure.

But that is nothing special for a leading bourgeois Italiar politician.

What is special is that Cossiga-having been Interior Minister during last year's mounting waves of uncontrolled violence and the kidnapping and killing of Christian Democrat leader Aldo Moro by the Red Brigades-admitted responsibiland resigned.

This unheard of and unprecedented gesture of bourgeois political "principle" has made Cossiga famous and apparently respected by leaders of the other parliamentary parties.

In addition, Cossiga has the 'merit' of not being considered to be a leader of either of the Christian Democratic factions.

Relative

And what is more he is a close relative of the CP leader Enrico Berlinguer, who is stili committed to a policy of "opposition" unless the CP is given seats in a broad class collaborationist cabinet of "historic compromise"

Cossiga has not been selected to bring his cousin or any other Stalinist into the Cabinet, But he may be the Italian bourgeoisie's last hope for now Andreotti of calming the party disputes and rescuing the rapidly waning credibility of parliamentary democracy and preventing the country being plunged for the second time in six months into a futile general election.

Such an election would almost certainly solve nothing but would lead to a further exposure of the Stalinist leaders as unable to offer any way to meet the demands of the Italian working class.

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bourgeoisie-as a rare and splendid privilege, an ulti-