After two days of intense political negotiations, acting-Foreign Minister Aldo Moro was appointed Italian Prime Minister-Designate in Rome on Tuesday (29 October). Signor Moro -- an influential member of the Christian Democrat Party -- has already headed three Italian administrations.

His task is to reconcile the differences between the Christian Democrats -- the largest party in the Italian Parliament -- and their prospective coalition partners ... the Socialists, the Social Democrats and the Republicans.

Italy has been without a government since 3 October, when the existing coalition broke up after the Socialists and the Social Democrats disagreed over the extent of Influence wielded by the country's powerful Communist Party.

The Centre-Left formula, which has dominated Italian politics for ten years, is seen as the most viable solution. But the Social Democrats have called for fresh elections. The other parties see the move as fruitless -- for the political balance would be little changed. They feel it would also create a political vacuum at a time when Italy faces its gravest economic crisis since the Second World War.

Signor Moro commands considerable respect both inside the Christian Democrat Party and among other leading politicians. But it will take all his skill to form Italy's 37th post-Fascist administration ... For the rift between the Socialists and the Social Democrats has widened in the past few days.