Christian Democratic Party, Catholic word and opening to left in Brescia (1958-1965)

This paper concerns the history of Dc in Brescia from 1958 to 1965, when the question of the opening up of a new alliance with Psi was the main element of contrast among the several internal currents of the Party. The reconstruction of the internal discussion in the catholic world in Brescia, in the period before the formation of the first municipal council of centro-sinistra, is important to understand the character of demochristian hegemony in a «white» province like Brescia. Because there is not a history of Dc in Brescia, the reconstruction of the main events in the local catholic party in this period is one of essential elements to understand the specificity of the local society, marked by uncommon notables, such as Bruno Boni, mayor of Brescia for almost thirty years and at the same time leader of the local party, or Lodovico Montini, brother of Pope Paul VI, who was first a member of the House of Commons (deputy) and then a senator. The events of Dc in Brescia are set in the complex net of relations between the Party and the collateral organizations of the local catholic world, such as Azione cattolica, Acli, Cisl and Coldiretti. From this view it is very important to take in consideration the role of monsignor Giacinto Tredici, bishop of Brescia, and monsignor Giuseppe Almici, auxiliary bishop. Several unpublished archives records and meaningful testimonies of some living protagonists have been used to reconstruct and to evaluate these intricate events.

Keywords: Christian Democracy, Catholic world; Brescia; centro-sinistra politics; elections.

Maurilio Lovatti, Democrazia cristiana, mondo cattolico e apertura a sinistra a Brescia (1958-1965) in "STORIA IN LOMBARDIA" 1-2/2012, pp 117-183, DOI: 10.3280/SIL2012-001005