Stalinist Crisis Stalinist

Scan page 2

Political splits threat ened the leaderships of the ( Communist Parties in both Italy and France during the last fortnight.

In each case they came as the direct result of their Stalinist popular front policies and the perpetual search for political blocs with sections of their own ruling class who can for the moment be judged 'progressive' In Rome the Central Committee of the Italian Party split down the middle over the Berlinguer leadership's policy of continuing parliamentary support (in the form of abstentions) for the minority Christian Democratic Andreotti government.

'AUSTERITY'

This government is now carrying out 'austerity measures' - price and tax increases, cuts in holidays and public spending - rivalling the Healey Callaghan attacks on the working class in Britain.

Former Party chief Luigi Longo attacked the support Berlinguer's leadership is giving to Andreotti. But the attack came not on principles, but tactical grounds.

As one of the main architects of the 'historical compromise' now bemg carried through. Longo Fared that the Party needed a stightly more left' face, otherwise:

"He will not only lose the influence and prestige among the masses that is the source of strength, but we wil also lose bargaining power."

The upshot was an open letter from the CP to the other 'democratic parties, including the Christian Democrats, at the end of last week, demanding that a 'discussion' be opened on the economic policies of the Andreotti cabinet.

These policies, it is clear to all sides, are almost wholly dictated by the overseas bankers who are bailing out the lire.

'SAFETY-VALVE'

Neither the Central Committee split, nor the letter, were treated as more than a political 'safety-valve' by Andreotti, however.

In Paris the leadership of the French CP went ahead, despite sharp protests from Moscow, with its latest attempt to refurbish a 'democratic' image.

They gave full support, including a plattorm speaker, to a meeting in defence of the civil rights' of political prisoners in the USSR... and in Latin America, including Chile!

The breach with the Soviet leadership which became public when the French CP formally dropped the 'dictatorship of the proletariat' from its programme thus widened.

'ANTI-SOVIETISM'

The protests from Moscow about 'anti-Sovietism' were only those to be expected - those of practised cynics. But nevertheless, there was in them more than a grain of truth. In placing on the same footing, the bureaucratic abuses of the workers' states and the fascist dictatorship of Pinochet in Chile. the French Stalinists tor K another significant step towards a practical political alliance . with the anticommunist and "liberal' circles of the French bourgeoisie.

The real target of such an alliance will not be polit cal jailings but the French working c lass.