How is this timeline so far?

  • Great

    Votes: 42 44.7%
  • Good

    Votes: 37 39.4%
  • Okay

    Votes: 9 9.6%
  • Bad

    Votes: 1 1.1%
  • Implausible

    Votes: 5 5.3%

  • Total voters
    94
What is situation in india?
India is on edge over the Himalaya Crisis, Naxalite Insurgency, and Assassination of the Dalai Lama, with anti-communist and anti-Chinese sentiment at an all-time high. More will be covered on India once Sanjay Gandhi succeeds his mother and outsourcing hits the West in the 90s.
 
How long until Cianci's downfall?
In timeline 2 years. Chapter wise I have two more chapters planned so far about Cianci’s crimes, another one about P2 screwing shit up next chapter, and a chapter devoted to the UK, New Zealand, and Canada. After that we go back to Rhode Island to see Cianci’s first near downfall.

Am I focusing to much on the rest of the world?
 
Chapter XXVI: House of Cianci
Berlinguer’s influence cannot be overstated in not only Italy but the Middle East and America. His time as Prime Minister led to not only the rise of Eurocommunism as a viable ideology amongst the left but also the fall of Buddy Cianci. During his short three years he had seen a campaign of terror aimed at dislodging him from power by the Unholy Alliance of the CIA, mafia, and P2 but still held strong, attempting to crackdown on the terrorist attacks but failing to crush it due to the influence of the CIA. Furthermore, he also radically shifted Italy’s overton window to the left with the Socialists being forced to oust Craxi and the Christian Democrats being put on the path of becoming the Party of Prodi less than Andreotti. Furthermore, Berlinguer further advanced the cause of Palestinian rights to the point that it became a mainstream position to support Palestine over Israel. Though, it’s without a shadow of a doubt his arch enemy made an equal contribution to that shift.

But Berlinguer’s influence was stopped dead in its track just like his life on a fateful day in June.

June 23rd, 1984 was a normal day. It was drizzling in Rome but nothing was out of the ordinary for Italy. Corruption was rampant, Berlinguer was attempting to crush the terrorists who had murdered his countrymen, and Aldo Moro was once again trying to rangle control of the Christian Democrats from the right. But on this ordinary day, right after Berlinguer met with Minister of the Interior Alessandro Natta to discuss the upcoming 1985 Italian Presidential Election, in which Berlinguer expected to push Nilde Iotti as the PCI’s candidate. Berlinguer then suddenly collapsed. Natta called for paramedics and performed CPR but it was in vain as Berlinguer had suffered brain hemorrhage and two days later he was pronounced dead.

Berlinguer’s death came as a massive shock to Italy and the world. Upon his death he was heralded a hero, not only to Italy but the third world and the international left. Today he’s remembered as one of the most principled men of the 20th century and a great unifier who kept the PCI together to effectively pass socialist policies, which would never be seen as the PCI suffered a split in 1992 with the ascension of the reformist Achille Occhetto to Prime Minister.

Berlinguer’s funeral would be attended by nearly every world leader who mattered. Fedorchuk traveled from Moscow to Rome, Pope Nicholas VI set aside a visit to Greece to be with his friend Aldo Moro, Opposition Leader Giulio Andreotti put aside their differences, Cianci flew to Rome all while barely hiding his joy, and president of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega. Hundreds of thousands came to pay their respects in Rome and millions throughout the country.

1653748633618.png

President Sandro Pertini paying his respects to Berlinguer.

After the funeral was wrapped up and respect was paid by his longtime friend Aldo Moro Natta got to work. Unlike Berlinguer Natta was more radical and on foreign policy more like Andreas Papandreou's in Greece than Berlinguer, openly decrying American foreign policy in Iran, recognizing the PRRI and inviting Chairman Rajavi to Rome. Furthermore, he attempted to cool relations with Moscow by inviting Chairman Fedorchuk to Rome but fortunately for the PCI’s popularity that ship sailed. When the vote came up for including a plank that condemned the Soviets as an imperialist power it was approved with 68% of the vote, being the first domino that would eventually cause the far left of the PCI to bolt.

But for now, Natta was able to use the torch he inherited from Berlinguer to unite the PCI in time for the 1984 General Election. Everyone knew Natta was going to call an early election, especially since him and PSI leader Giuliano Vassalli had a much worse relationship with each other compared to Berlinguer. Furthermore, Vassalli disliked Natta’s more radical agenda and support for the PRRI and disdain for NATO. With the predicted collapse of the coalition and a massive sympathy vote behind him, Natta announced an election for December 5th, 1984 and hit the ground running. The PCI put out a platform that called for nationalizing the Italian oil industry, nationalizing dockyards, embargoing Israel, cracking down on the mafia, increasing funding for police departments, and guaranteeing the right to a union by putting it in the constitution. The platform compared to the platform put out by the Christian Democrats gave Italians a plan to look forward too as the PCI built on Berlinguer’s legacy instead of repealing all of Berlinguer’s signature achievements.

1653766025768.png

PCI Rally in Naples.

Andreotti attempted to hammer the PCI on their radical economic agenda was unpopular amongst the Italian people as Natta painted Andreotti’s attacks on the PCI’s policies as an attack on Berlinguer’s legacy. Furthermore, the Socialists once again ate into the Christian Democrat’s usually strong white collar voting base due to Vassalli specifically targeting them throughout his leadership, splitting the opposition when the anti-Communists needed a united campaign. Furthermore, the Republican Party and Radicals forged an electoral alliance that was headed by Italian partisan and Senator Bruno Visentini who was a suitable compromise for the moderate Republicans and Libertarian Radicals.

The final political party that mattered was the MSI who was once again being led by Giorgio Almirante who presented himself as the leader of the anti-Communist resistance, fear mongering about Natta being a puppet of the Soviet Union and comparing the PCI platform to the Great Leap Forward.

The extreme rhetoric would secure the MSI’s third place finish as they secured the most desperate of the Christian Democrats who sought a firebrand anti-communist rather than a moral leader but also pushed away moderate blue- and white-collar workers who preferred the Christian Democrats or the Socialists.

The most notable side effect of the election, minus the possibility of a Communist majority was the violence by both the far-left and the far-right. During the election the CIA and P2 didn’t just arm and encourage the far right but actively encouraging the Red Brigades to wage war against the PCI. Not only did Cianci believed that an increase in far-left terrorism would harm the popularity of the PCI but also convince the Italian military to overthrow Natta or at least make sure Andreotti won. Of course, while there were elements in the Italian government that wanted to see Natta removed but most understood that would be a terrible idea. After all, Italy was still in NATO and the PCI during Berlinguer’s term condemned the Soviet Union, so the chances of Italy being turned into another Soviet Union or China were very slim. Furthermore, the PCI went out of their way to condemn and harshly punish the Red Brigades which was enough of a reassurance for several high-ranking officials in the military and intelligence community to prevent a coup attempt. Despite the harsh crackdown which saw constant raids on the Red Brigades and the NAR the Years of Lead only intensified, notably in the industrial regions of Italy which saw union leaders and police officers murdered with American bullets and guns. One notable example was when Minister of Defense Giorgio Napolitano was killed when three Red Brigade members shot up a police station he was visiting in Florence.

The Assassination of Napolitano was notable for being actively encouraged by the US government, with undercover CIA agents pushing the Red Brigade members to take drastic action. Along with the Assassination of Napolitano the Flight 450 Massacre which saw an Alitalia flight heading to Brazil disappear over the Mediterranean Ocean. It wasn’t until the Coltello Insanguinato scandal broke that the truth was uncovered. The truth was that the P2 Lodge executed this in an attempt to destroy the PCI’s lead in the polls. Of course, this failed and much to the horror of the Unholy Alliance Natta did what Berlinguer only dreamed of: won a majority.

At midnight the official tally was announced and cheers could be heard from the Chigi Palace as the PCI won a majority of three seats. The Christian Democrats were reduced to 145 seats, a number that remained the lowest until 1987.

1653748838182.png

1653748854713.png


In the White House on the other hand there were no cheers but only screams of rage. Cianci and Licio Gelli where in the White House living room watched the results live. “Are ya fuckin kiddin me Licio?”

“Uh.”

“I gave ya one fuckin job and ya fucked it up! All that money could’ve been sent to Guatemala or the Contras.”

“Well, Bud-”

“It’s President.”

Gelli fumbled for a few seconds before saying “uh President, the Communists have clearly hypnotized the Italian people into supporting an evil system. Our campaign has been effective, killing one of the moderate bastards.”

“If it worked Licio Andreotti would be Prime Minister and not Natta.”

“We just need more time.”

“Bullshit. You need better strategy. We had the guns in Vietnam did we win? No. We got our asses kicked by a bunch of farmers because we didn’t strategize,” Cianci said, calming down as the gears in his head came up with a plan. “I’ll tell ya what, stop targeting civilians and shit and start targeting the government machine. We got some men on the inside, correct? Pietro Longo and the MSI. Furthermore, you’ve got connections with the banks correct? ”

“Yes.”

“Then I need a favor from Calvi and his friends. Ya need to tell him to bribe every anti-Communist politician we can find. I guarantee we can get Andreotti on our side as he’s already working with some of my buddies in the Cosa Nostra. Just give him some BS about helping him regain power and then we can get the others in the Christian Democrats to join us and sabotage the PCI from the inside.”

Gelli cracked a smirk and thought for a couple seconds before saying “what about Moro?”

“That traitor can be circumvented, just bribe the no names who have power the average man can’t name and once the Natta regime starts to breakdown the Italian people will vote those bastards out.”

“Gotcha. I’ll start making calls.”

Cianci looked at Gelli and laughed. “No, no, no. You’re not going to fuck this up Licio. You didn’t prevent a PCI majority, let alone Natta being re-elected for another four years. Imma get Andreotti on our side myself as I got Meese and Marcos. You don't tell them how you plan to achieve your goals you just give them the money and they won't ask a single question.”

Gelli was visibly upset at the news, with his face turning from determined and happy that his plan would succeed to a glum face as he realized he wasn’t the one with the power. Hell, even Andreotti, the man who had more connections than Natta didn’t have any power. Gelli knew at this moment things were going to get ugly and way uglier if he dared to challenge the authority of the who could end more than just his career with two words out of his mouth. So Gelli decided to nod in agreement instead of protest his diminishing power.

After that meeting with Gelli, Cianci got to work planning for the future. At this point in 1985 he was at the height of his power, and he wasn’t ready to give up that power. Luckily his Vice President agreed with him.

Vice President Vander Jagt, if you take an US history class is someone you learn whose importance lasts only longer than his popularity. 1985 was when his importance became obvious to the American people and Cianci. After Cianci’s crushing victory over Fred Harris in 1984, Vander Jagt came up with a peculiar plan that ensured his legacy amongst the American people. That was repealing the 22nd Amendment and allowing Presidents to run for as many terms as they wanted. To Cianci, this was great.

With his two terms coming up he was having a hard time finding a successor who would carry on the criminal empire he built. But a third or even fourth term would allow him to entrench his empire and groom a successor who would carry the empire. The push for the repeal of the 22nd began when Vander Jagt went on Sixty Minutes and made his case to Al Gore, saying:

1653748801994.png


“The 22nd Amendment is an attack on our democracy and is intended to limit the political power of the people, not the President. President Cianci for example is a man of the people who cannot be stopped. His crusade against corruption and Communism is unmatched and his popularity shows this. Furthermore, unlike past Presidents he knows what it’s like to grow up in an average neighborhood instead of a mansion. If we want to ensure the fact that the US is a country of common people we must allow President Cianci to run for another term so he can continue his holy crusade against the evils of communism, corruption, and drugs that under Nixon and Jackson destroyed our nation.”

Vander Jagt’s tirade was originally praised by several corners of the GOP. The new pseudo-populist wing of the GOP, led by Bo Callaway of Colorado whose views of democracy can best be described as hostile considering his support for segregation (which he backed away from in 1980 to narrowly win a Senate seat in Colorado). Callaway during a debate with New York Senator Elizabeth Holtzman decried the 22nd as a restriction on the will of the American people who had sought an anti-corruption candidate and had finally been gifted one who would surely win re-election.

The attempt to push the repeal of the 22nd was one that brought massive backlash to Cianci and more scrutiny. Senator Holtzman especially became the loudest voice opposing Cianci, calling a typical politician at heart who makes big promises but lines his own pockets instead. Furthermore, moderate Republicans such as Lowell Weicker and Ted Stevens denounced the idea as idiotic and the first step towards mob rule, though on the latter point the US was already there. Cianci refused to back down though and ordered Vander Jagt to keep making arguments in favor of repealing the 22nd. In fact, Cianci never spoke publicly in favor about repealing the 22nd in order to keep up his image as a benevolent yet fire-breathing man of the people (saying “it depends on what the American people want, not me)”. Of course, Vander Jagt was a loyal foot soldier who gladly dug his own grave to fight for repealing the 22nd, making populist overtures to the American people and goes on about democracy and returning power to common people as Cianci looted hundreds of millions each year from the US and listened more and more to kleptocrats and totalitarians such as Ferdinand Marcos, Roberto Calvi, and Licio Gelli.

As the debate over the 22nd raged in the US, Cianci left the country to visit two men. Giulio Andreotti and Ferdinand Marcos, one which he considered a pawn and another he considered a friend. It was the perfect way to dodge journalists about the 22nd and to expand his empire.
 
Last edited:
If you want to speed up Rhode Island history a bit, now would be a good time to start dropping hints about the banking crisis in vitro. ;) Otherwise, great chapter!
 
I'm curious what the effects of the success of Eurocommunism in Italy well have on other countries. I think would be funny that Cianci's actions ironically end up with the long-term effect of a more legitimized far left in the United States.
 
I'm curious what the effects of the success of Eurocommunism in Italy well have on other countries. I think would be funny that Cianci's actions ironically end up with the long-term effect of a more legitimized far left in the United States.
The effects on the CPUSA (who, IIRC, at this point in time still have Gus Hall as its leader) would be interesting, considering how doctrinaire and pro-Moscow it was compared to other Communist parties elsewhere. I'd keep a lookout for this group, which could lead to an earlier rupture ITTL than OTL. That has the potential not only to become a majority, but also (given hints already of a PCI split - probably like OTL, with hardliners on one side and reformists on the other) probably seek to patch up differences with other socialist parties in the US (again - there's precedent for this in Italy).
 
Well, it's great ! Can't wait for Cianci to meet his end...
Thank you! The pot is starting to boil.
If you want to speed up Rhode Island history a bit, now would be a good time to start dropping hints about the banking crisis in vitro. ;) Otherwise, great chapter!
Thank you! I’ll make sure to drop hints about in the chapter after the next one. Though, Rhode Island won’t be the only one with banking troubles.
I'm curious what the effects of the success of Eurocommunism in Italy well have on other countries. I think would be funny that Cianci's actions ironically end up with the long-term effect of a more legitimized far left in the United States.
America’s appetite for the left will be seen in the aftermath of Cianci’s scandals. But it’ll take another two decades for the far-left. In the meantime the left will be comprised of social democrats and democratic socialists and be a faction within the Democrats, being led by former VP Fred Harris while the moderates are led by Senator Jerry Litton. In the 90s though, the left will be in control of the Democrats. Internationally the left is going to do quite well, with the PCI despite suffering a split by the hardliners being the main political party in Italy due to Cianci’s actions legitimizing them along with left wing parties in Greece, France, Sweden, etc.
The effects on the CPUSA (who, IIRC, at this point in time still have Gus Hall as its leader) would be interesting, considering how doctrinaire and pro-Moscow it was compared to other Communist parties elsewhere. I'd keep a lookout for this group, which could lead to an earlier rupture ITTL than OTL. That has the potential not only to become a majority, but also (given hints already of a PCI split - probably like OTL, with hardliners on one side and reformists on the other) probably seek to patch up differences with other socialist parties in the US (again - there's precedent for this in Italy).
I’ll have to look into the CCDS but it certainly has potential. Combined with the Liberty Union Party, RI Progressive Party, New York Working Families Party, and some left wing independents we could see a united left in the future, but that would be a spoiler. I will say both Eurocommunism and Liberation Theology will be highly influential in the modern left ITTL.
 
Chapter XXVII: Il Divo
President Cianci during his four years in office had accumulated an obscene amount of wealth that was becoming harder and harder to hide. In total at this point, he had made somewhere between $1 billion to $3 billion dollars from assisting the Mafia and embezzling hundreds of millions from taxpayers across the country. Since he couldn’t hide his pile of cash in American banks, he decided to hide it abroad in the Philippines. During his time as President, he had become friends with one of the world’s most notorious thugs and kleptocrats in world history. Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos, who Cianci met in 1982 on his first tour of Asia, had instantly struck a chord with Cianci. Both men agreed that getting paid handsomely for their “service” to the nation was the correct move on their part, exchanging strategies on how to extract billions of dollars from taxpayers and the government itself. It didn’t take long for Cianci to invite Marcos to D.C and include him in his schemes, which Marcos gleefully gave him advice. For example, he pushed Cianci to push for the repeal of the 22nd Amendment and eventually turn the United States of America into a state-run by Cianci completely, with a handpicked successor after twenty years of theft. With Vander Jagt and the pseudo-populist Republicans pushing for the repeal of the 22nd Cianci figured it would be a good time to pay his friend a visit to ask him for some advice.

Screenshot 2022-06-08 8.13.29 AM.png

Marcos addressing the public on the Cianci scandal shortly before his overthrow.

The meeting was easily the most infamous meeting that Marcos and Cianci had. There Cianci and Marcos discussed how to break Cianci’s political opponents. Marcos suggested disposing of them by assassinating them in cold blood just as he did to Ninoy Aquino in 1983. Cianci gave it a little thought and swiftly came to the conclusion that Marcos was not entirely wrong. After all, that pesky prosecutor from New York threatened to blow the lid on the whole operation without even knowing it. But, assassinating someone in America would undoubtedly draw a lot of heat from the police. In Italy on the other hand anything went. The Mafia ever since its inception had carried out targeted assassinations. Cianci knew that directly using the P2 to take out judges and prosecutors who threatened his power would threaten to unravel his entire empire. Shortly after Cianci and Marcos finished their meeting Cianci flew to Italy to discuss his future plans with the Unholy Alliance. Before his meeting with Andreotti, he decided to meet with Salvatore Riina at Silvio Berlusconi’s mansion in Milan. Riina, ever since taking over the Cosa Nostra had been a key ally and influencer of Cianci. During this meeting, the two men discussed the worrying crusade by the Natta government against the Mafia. With Minister of Justice Giovanni Conso launching an effective yet bloody campaign against the Mafia, jailing over 200 individuals for murder and extortion. Riina, knowing his arsenal was no match for the Italian police wanted to go on the offensive. During the meeting, he pushed Cianci to sanction a series of mass bombings and assassinations that aimed to cripple the Italian government once and for all. Originally Cianci was hesitant, believing the bloodshed would backfire and only bring more attention to his criminal empire. But then Riina told him that a high-ranking member of the Mafia Tommaso Buscetta had turned Pentini (essentially cooperating with investigators). Buscetta was one individual who knew too much about the Unholy Alliance, with the P2 hiring him to protect Gelli’s Rome mansion. Now he was thinking about turning on the Unholy Alliance and bringing down not only the Italian republic but also the United States government. When he was told this Cianci sanctioned Riina to kill any who threatened to turn Pentino, sentencing hundreds to death.

1654729758644.png

One of the many Mafia bombings that plagued the 1980s.

On March 23rd, 1985 Buscetta was being driven home when one of his guards shot him in the abdomen with a silencer. Buscetta fought back, however, managing to take the gun from the guard as another in the front seat fired indiscriminately at the two men. Miraculously, Buscetta was only shot in the left arm, shoulder, and stomach, allowing him to shoot back and kill the guard. The guard on top of him was hit by the other guard’s bullets too, with a bullet piercing an artery in his leg and the other was lodged in his left lung. The guard who was rapidly losing blood and struggling to breathe was pistol-whipped five times in the head by Buscetta before falling off of him. The driver attempted to pull out his gun and shoot Buscetta but ultimately paid the price for that decision when he swerved into another car at 80 mph, killing him, Buscetta, and the two businessmen returning from a late night at work. Soon after Carlo Alberto Chiesa, who had been assigned to Palmero to stop the Mafia violence was on the scene. The site was gruesome. Buscetta had been flung fifty feet from the car like a rag doll and hit the ground so hard his spine had nearly shattered like glass. Soon after he called up Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino to report that a potential pentino was dead and most likely assassinated by the Mafia. The three men agreed to meet to discuss further plans to prevent pentino’s from being assassinated but the next day something truly strange happened.

Fabrizio Cicchitto was a high-ranking member of the Socialist Party and despite his left-wing views, and being sympathetic to the Communist Party he was a member of Propaganda Due. He had gone along with Licio Gelli for whatever reason. Up until 1985 at least when he learned about Gelli’s connections to Cianci and the CIA. Soon after Cicchitto decided to go to Minister of Justice Giovanni Conso to report what he had heard. He never made it. Pietro Longo, who was a member of the P2 found out that Cicchitto was going to destroy P2. No one knows how he found out but as Cicchitto was leaving his house at 5:00 in the morning he was kidnapped by seven armed men who were members of the neo-fascist NAR and taken to a warehouse to be tortured. After a couple of hours of torture, Cianci was informed by Gelli of Cicchitto’s betrayal and Cianci gave the green light to execute Cicchitto. But Cianci wanted to make an example of him. So, he locked himself in his hotel room and called Stefano Delle Chiaie who was leading the death squad.

Chiaie gave the phone to Cicchitto and Cianci began his usual taunt.

“Fabrizio, if you think you’re the puppet master you’re wrong. Just like Natta and Conso and Chiesa, ya have no power. I’m the one in control of not only you but the economy and the government and anyone who tries to cross me will turn out like Judas Iscariot. Do you understand?”

Cicchitto whispered “yes” with physical pain in his voice.

“Good. Because if think you’re making it out alive today then you’re mistaken. Let this be a lesson to any of you filthy Communist bastards who are trying to destroy Italy. Have fun in the ninth circle of hell.”

At that point, Chiaie took out a silencer and shot Cicchitto in the head.

Chiaie left the warehouse soon after and ordered the six other thugs to clean up the scene. He destroyed the phone per Cianci’s orders and got in his car. That’s when he heard police sirens and four police cars arrived on the scene. “How the fuck?” He whispered. Before he could start the car a police officer brandishing a shotgun hopped out of his vehicle and screamed for him to come out with his hands up. He complied and the police burst down the door to the warehouse soon after. the six thugs, armed with pistols and shotguns fired at the police but the police came prepared with a SWAT team and the six thugs were quickly disposed of in a storm of bullets. Now the police had to find out just what the hell was going on in Italy.

Right before Chiaie had his meeting with Cicchitto Cianci had his infamous meeting with Andreotti.

The meeting with Andreotti would be the climax of the Unholy Alliance as Cianci successfully convinced Andreotti to join him. Cianci’s pitch had nothing to do with liberating Italy from communism or any of those lies but had to do with money and power. Cianci promised to make Andreotti the richest man in Europe by using the CIA and his allies in the Mafia to embezzle money from the government, smuggle weapons to groups such as the PLO, the Contras, the OPN, and the numerous factions in the Lebanon Civil War, and collect a fee from the Nosa Costra and other Mafia groups for protecting them from prosecution. All Andreotti would have to do is use his immense power and influence to sabotage the investigations and efforts of the government. With Andreotti’s power behind the Unholy Alliance, it was obvious that Cianci would be unstoppable. Andreotti was convinced that this proposal would bring immense wealth to him and also aid Italy’s Arab allies in Palestine, Egypt, and Lebanon. The deal was struck, and that day was easily the climax of Cianci’s power before it all came crashing down a year later.

1654744785334.png

Lebanese militia men with Italian weapons (1985).

The deal is referred to in Italy as L’accordo con Satana, which in English translates to “the deal with Satan.” Andreotti at the time was the most powerful man who wasn’t Licio Gelli or Alessandro Natta in Italy and almost immediately after the meeting with Cianci his allies in the government began to do his dirty work, stealing funds from government projects and hiring members of the Mafia in construction projects. The money came in swiftly and Andreotti was on track to make $100 million dollars by the end of 1985 while Cianci easily made $400 million dollars from the plot.

While Andreotti’s looting of the Italian government is undisputed his involvement in Cianci’s terrorism is less certain. Like Vander Jagt the public has the view that he knew full well of Cianci’s crimes but stabbed his fellow men in the back for personal reasons, Andreotti for blood money, and Vander Jagt in the name of anti-communism. But unfortunately, the world will never know how guilty Andreotti is as his trial was shrouded in controversy. As he faced Paolo Borsellino in Rome he pleaded not guilty to charges of treason and the jury agreed, being acquitted on several charges including treason but being convicted on murder, bribery, fraud, and conspiracy charges. The evidence against Andreotti wasn’t very good for him, with him admitting to Arnaldo Forlani in 1982 that Operation Gladio indeed existed but his involvement or knowledge of the full extent is up for debate. Considering he was a man of power who had connections with Riina and the Nosa Costra who were involved in the Unholy Alliance it’s unlikely that Andreotti knew as little as he claimed.

But then again Cianci, up until his death in 2018 claimed that Andreotti knew only a little bit about Operation Gladio, and the Unholy Alliance compared to Gelli and Riina who he confirmed were the two masterminds behind the plot alongside him. With this admission from Cianci, the jury ruled in favor of Andreotti, who unlike Gelli escaped officially betraying his country.

1654694569261.png

Andreotti at the Conso Trial in Rome (1990).

Andreotti’s trial would mark a sharp divide in public opinion, with the right believing Andreotti was greedy but not a traitor while the left firmly believed that Andreotti was no better than Mussolini. Public opinion would change when Sabina Guzzanti’s L’accordo con Satana was released in 2018. The film was a crime thriller that detailed Andreotti’s crimes from the perspective of Giorgio Nervi, a poor manufactory worker from Genoa who’s extorted by the Mafia, and Andreotti himself who’s displayed as a puppet of Cianci and is implied to have orchestrated the notorious Vizzenti’s Bar Massacre. The film ends with Andreotti receiving his sentence and Nervi visiting his daughter’s grave ten years after her murder by the Mafia to place a bouquet of red roses, a symbol of his left-wing views and the blood that had been spilled throughout the movie by Andreotti. Soon after the film’s release, it was met with widespread praise less for its conspiracism that has become popular in US and Italian films but for its portrayal of poverty, the rise of Berlinguerism in Italy, the Mafia, and corruption in Italy and it’s themes of justice and liberty being woven in spectacularly. It also made history as the first foreign film to win the Oscar for Best Picture at the 91st Academy Awards. Furthermore, it has been called the “greatest movie of the 2010s” and compared to Napoleon by Stanley Kubrick and Dreaming in Brushstrokes by Don Bluth and Steven Spielberg. Culturally the film shifted opinion towards the theory that Andreotti was a cold-blooded terrorist who stabbed his country in the back in a vain attempt to crush the left. With the theory once again entering the mainstream Congressmen Christian Parenti and former Presidential nominee Brian Schweitzer have both publicly embraced the theory while in Italy Alessandro Di Battista of the PCI (who later became Prime Minister) called for Andreotti to be put on trial once again for treason. The Prime Minister at the time, Romano Prodi rejected this overture, saying that justice had been served and the jury had made its decision.

Whether Andreotti is a traitor or not doesn't matter frankly. Andreotti’s aiding of Cianci’s criminal empire would be his downfall, whether it was motivated by his thirst for money or a genuine desire to destroy the PCI. With his death in 2011 from kidney failure, the debate on the extent of his involvement won’t go away anytime soon and the debate is just as likely to end as a definitive answer is to come to light.
 
Top