In the summer of 1972, the Andreotti II government was formed, with the DC, PLI, and PSDI actively participating and the PRI providing external support. However, left-wing Christian Democrats, including Moro, remained outside, preferring to continue the alliance with the Socialists and work toward PCI legitimacy. This division foreshadowed upcoming shifts in coalition dynamics.
The stability of the government in the following year was undermined not only by the difficulties of monetary policy, stemming from Nixon's decision to decouple the dollar from gold, but above all by union pressure, culminating in a general strike. Furthermore, within the DC, Moro and Fanfani were pushing for a return to the centre-left; the Apulian politician in particular, envisioned the upcoming Christian Democrat Congress as a "last resort" for the resumption of centre-left politics, arguing that "if we fail this time, it could really end badly." The attempt to revive the centre-left was primarily linked to the growing difficulties in managing the economic emergency, which would have been difficult to address with a political majority and a limited social base. Even Deputy Prime Minister and PSDI president Mario Tanassi weighed in on the issue, arguing in an interview for the need for "an initiative to fully explore the possibilities for reviving a centre-left coalition." This move displeased Andreotti, who reiterated the Socialists' unreliability.

Meanwhile, the Republicans withdrew their external support for the government, while the DC postponed its decision until the party's national congress. On the eve of the congress, Fanfani summoned leading Christian Democrats to his office as president of the Senate in Palazzo Giustiniani. During this meeting, they decided to appoint Fanfani as party secretary, appoint Moro as president of the Chamber of Deputies, and reopen collaboration with the Socialists. This decision effectively ended the second Andreotti government, which was to be replaced by Rumour. Andreotti and Forlani also joined, albeit hesitantly, as they would lose the Prime Minister's office and the DC Secretary's office, respectively. At the Congress, the previous evening's decisions were ratified. Following this, Andreotti went to Parliament to resign as prime minister. Thus, the Rumour government was formed, returning to the centre-left four-party formula (DC-PSI-PSDI-PRI) with Moro as Foreign Minister. Moro relinquished the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies to Pertini to avoid discontent within the PSI.