Italy's thirty-sixth government since 1944 resigned on June 10, 1974. On June 14 the Italian President, Giovanni Leone, who must accept such resignations, refused to accept this one. The resigned Rumor Fifth Government had to reform and carry on. The Rumor government was the shortest of all previous governments (eighty-nine days), and its resignation came at what seemed a time of deepest crisis. Leone probably made his unprecedented move because little other alternative existed and the crisis would not wait. The Italian President is charged with consulting and arranging new governmental coalitions, which must receive thence a majority support in parliament to survive. If this is impossible, new elections must be called. For the moment the continued Rumor government is a hopeful interim, but much depends on the Socialist Party and the way it views the current crisis.