Italian wage referendum, 1985

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A referendum on abolishing the wage escalator was held in Italy on 9 June 1985.^[1] The escalator allowed for the automatic growth of the salaries of Italian workers at the same rate as inflation. This mechanism was accused of causing high inflation which damaged the lira during the 1980s, with a 20% annual rate. Voters were asked whether they wanted to repeal a law passed by the government of socialist Prime Minister Bettino Craxi which had strongly reduced this automatic mechanisms. The referendum was called by the Italian Communist Party. Those voting "yes" wanted to restore the automatic growth of the salaries as the inflation ratio, and those voting "no" wanted to retain the law which tried to reduce the high inflation.

The referendum was defeated by margin of 54.3% to 45.7% on a voter turnout of 77.9% out of 45 million eligible Italian electors, thus allowing the law to remain in force.

Political party positions

Signatures and petitions for the referendum were collected by the Italian Communist Party. It found the support of the Proletarian Democracy and the Federation of the Greens on the left side, but also of the Italian Social Movement on the opposite faction.

Between the opposition to the referendum, the Italian Socialist Party found the support of all its allies, mainly the big Christian Democracy.

Results

Choice	Votes	%
For repealing the law	15,460,855	45.7
Against repealing the law	18,384,788	54.3
Invalid/blank votes	1,113,761	–
Total	34,959,404	100
Registered voters/turnout	44,904,290	77.9
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

The referendum was considered a major victory for the Italian Socialist Party and its leader Bettino Craxi, but it caused a dramatic split into the Italian left, the Communists accusing the Socialist to be sold to the business owners.

References

↑ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1048 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7

Elections and referendums in Italy

General elections	1861 1865 1867 1870 1874 1876 1880 1882 1886 1890 1892 1895 1897 1900 1904 1909 1913 1919 1921 1924 1929 1934 1946 1948 1953 1958 1963 1968 1972 1976 1979 1983 1987 1992 1994 1996 2001 2006 2008 2013 next

European elections	1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014

Regional elections	1947 1949 1951 1953 1954 1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1964 1965 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1973 1974 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1981 1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Local elections	1946 1951 1956 1960 1964 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Referendums	1946 1974 1978 1981 1985 1987 1989 1990 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005 2006 2009 2011 2016 (Apr) 2016 (Oct)

See also: Elections in Abruzzo Aosta Valley Apulia Basilicata Calabria Campania Emilia–Romagna Friuli-Venezia Giulia Lazio Liguria Lombardy Marche Molise Piedmont Sardinia Sicily Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Tuscany Umbria Veneto

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