As a member of the former Italian Communist party (PCI), can I respond to two assertions made by Alberto Toscano in his article on the new Italian government (Comment, 30 April)?
First, he claims that the proposed historic compromise, supported by Giorgio Napolitano, referred to an alliance between communists and Christian Democrats and that it was "an ill-conceived idea in its own time". In fact, Eric Hobsbawm, in his extended interview with Napolitano in the mid-70s, explained it more accurately when he said that Berlinguer, then leader of the PCI, observed that the historic compromise must be conceived not as a mere political alliance, but as a mobilisation of a broad range of diverse social groups. The proposal was set out in three articles written by Berlinguer in 1973, after the coup in Chile. Berlinguer talked of a coming together of the three strands of popular socio-cultural and political traditions in Italy – communist, socialist and Catholic – as a possible way forward in the light of the Chilean experience. It was never about a compromise with the Christian Democratic party as such, rather with the Catholic left movement.
Second, Toscano claims the Partito Democratico formed the present government coalition because it wanted to see off Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement. This was not the case at all. The PD, under Pier Luigi Bersani, tried to negotiate a political, policy-based agreement with Grillo, who refused. Grillo is nothing but a dangerous anti-politics clown who is holding the country to ransom and, as a result of his populist demagoguery, the present government was the only viable alternative to fresh elections. It is Grillo's so-called challenge that is responsible for Berlusconi being back in a position to dictate terms.
Romy Clark Giuliani
Lancaster
• The reason why most of François Hollande's activity has backfired (Editorial, 3 May) is that he has failed to get on the front foot at any point. Blinded by the desire to be the opposite of the extravagant Sarkozy, Hollande has attempted to be a mixture of "normal" and "presidential". But with a five-year term in the midst of a severe economic crisis, the public are looking for their president to lead, not be buffeted by events.
Eventually, Hollande has been forced to act – but reluctantly, and in response to the various crises engulfing his government and his ministers. It is no surprise then that he has failed to make a persuasive case for his agenda. The worry is that it is not just his failed government, but the whole regime that is heading for years of political and social upheaval.
Professor John Gaffney
Co-director, Aston University Centre for Europe