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| 1970, Feb. 7–March 27 |
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| Another prolonged cabinet crisis, following the resignation of the Rumor government and various vain attempts to construct a new coalition. Such a government was announced by Rumor on March 27, but lasted only until July 6. | 1 |
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| Aug. 6 |
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| Emilio Colombo (Christian Democrat) presented a new coalition cabinet, renewing the Center-Left combination. Meanwhile student riots, strikes, and demonstrations of all kinds became almost endemic in several of the large cities (Dec.), making early action for reform all but imperative. | 2 |
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| Dec. 1 |
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| After long and heated debates, the chamber of deputies passed the first Italian divorce law, despite vigorous opposition by the Catholic hierarchy and conservative organizations of many kinds. The law was upheld by a divorce referendum in May 1974. Divorce became a mobilizing issue for Italian feminists, bolstered by a younger generation of educated women no longer content to stay at home. The movement became a powerful force in Italy and pushed for more legislative changes throughout the 1970s. | 3 |
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