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GV EXTERIOR Cinema with people waiting
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SV PAN Agnelli (Fiat President) enters
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CU PAN FROM Name on placard TO Doorway
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TOP VIEW INTERIOR Agnelli applauded as he walks through crowd to platform
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CU Agnelli on platform
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Initials CL/1740 CL/1750



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: President of the Fiat motor car company, Mr. Umberto Agnelli, has pledged his support for the Christian Democratic Party in the forthcoming Italian elections.

Mr. Agnelli made his statement at a noisy rally in the Olimpico cinema in Rome on Monday (31 May). His older brother, Mr. Gianni Agnelli, has also played a major part in the election campaign.

Mr. Umberto Agnelli's statement is something of an embarrassment to his elder brother who has been organising a broad coalition of the Centre and moderate right to counteract the Communists. He had also intended the coalition to provide an alternative to the Christian Democrats.

The entire Fiat leadership is now heavily involved in the coming election. Officials at the car plant's headquarters have stated that Italy needs a government that can govern. Italy, it says, needs a policy which will persuade people to make sacrifices, because , to reduce inflation, the country must produce more and consume less. The statement went on the say that such a policy must be seen to be fair, and must be carried out by a government that has credibility.

SYNOPSIS: The Olimpico cinema in Rome on Monday, and Christian Democrats wait to greet President of the Fait motor car company, Mr. Umberto Agnelli, who has pledged his support for the party. Mr. Agnelli has joined with his older brother, Gianni, in taking a strong stand during the election campaign.

But, according to reports, Mr. Umberto Agnelli's support for the Christian Democrats has come as an embarrassment to his older brother. He was organising a party which would have provided an alternative to the Christian Democrats. Mr. Agnelli, senior, has now announced that a combination of lay parties to fight the Communists. will not work.