L'INIZIO DELLA CORSA: L'APPRENDISTATO POLITICO DEL GIOVANE BETTINO CRAXI

ABSTRACT The aim of this elaborate is to reconstruct the political formation of Bettino Craxi. The dissertation is composed by an introduction, eight chapters and a conclusion. In the first chapter Craxi’s education and family behavior is analyzed. Also, it is reconstructed the time when Vittorio, Bettino’s father, is vice prefect of Milan and civil servant in Como. The first chapter analyses Craxi’s first political experience, when his father is candidate for the “Popular front” in the 1948 elections. After that, it is underlined Craxi’s political activity in the “Goliardia”, which was the representative university council. The next chapters follow Craxi’s growth in the Italian socialist Party. A particular attention is given to the steps towards the autonomy carried out by the socialist federation of Milan, led by Guido Mazzali, the political secretary. In the fifth chapter, Craxi’s activity in the town council as assessor to the bursary and then to care and benefaction is explored. Craxi assumes a key-role in the socialist group, principally during Aniasi administration. While Craxi is attending his mandate in the town hall, he continues his training in socialist Party’s federation. When he leaves “Goliardia” and the young socialist movement, he becomes executive in the socialist union of Sesto San Giovanni, a city in which Craxi can experiment the hegemony of the communist Party. In the same years he attends the central committee for the “autonomists” that are supporters of the national secretary Pietro Nenni. During the sixties, Craxi increases his role in the executive committee of Milan’s federation. Thus, in 1965, he becomes secretary of the province. Next years, he works to prepare the reunification with the social democratic that were separated since Palazzo Barberini congress, in 1947. The efforts of the reunification did not have positive electoral outcomes at the elections of 1968, and after fourteen months social democratic Party has opted for a scission. During those years, Craxi becomes organic to the national direction, but after the political response of 1968, he leaves his responsibility in the Lombard federation to dedicate himself to the national context. Thus, after social democratic disengagement, Craxi is involved in the activity in the central committee and in the direction. In May 1968, the politician is also elected in Italian Parliament. In this role, Craxi participates to some delegations and at the end of 1969, he exposes his agreement to the divorce law. In April 1970, Craxi becomes vice secretary of the socialist party. During his growth, Craxi is influenced by the numerous activities of the socialist federation and by the important figures that have characterized the debate in Milan during the fifty and the sixties.