Alliance for Italy
Encyclopedia
Alliance for Italy is a centrist
political party in Italy.
The party, which is described in its manifesto as "democratic, liberal, popular" as opposed both to "right-wing populism
" and the "social-democratic
left
, an experience with high and memorable value, yet by now run out", was launched on 11 November 2009 by Francesco Rutelli, senator for the Democratic Party
(PD) and former leader of Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL). The core of the party is composed by the Free Democrats
, the faction Rutelli launched some months before leaving the PD.
The party is an observer member of the Liberal International
.
. In September 2009, when he was a guest at a party convention of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC) of Pier Ferdinando Casini
, he told the press that he was interested in an alliance with the new party Casini was organizing through the Union of the Centre (UdC). Rutelli's critical view of the PD was reinforced by the election of Pier Luigi Bersani
as party leader in a primary election
on 25 October 2009.
On 27 October, after months of speculation, Rutelli hinted that was leaving the PD. The core idea of Rutelli was that Italy needed a new "political proposal" in a time when the country is on the verge of splitting in two, with Lega Nord more than ever confident in the North and a the possible emergence of the Party of the South
: a scenario that could mean complete marginalization for the centre-left and its failure as a national political force.
(President of the Province of Trento and leader of the Union for Trentino
), Massimo Cacciari
, (Mayor of Venice
), Linda Lanzillotta (former Minister of Regional Affairs), Bruno Tabacci
and Elvio Ubaldi. While Cacciari and Lanzillotta have been members of DL and then of the PD, Tabacci and Ubaldi are members of White Rose
, a small outfit that was part of the Union of the Centre (UdC), led by Pier Ferdinando Casini
, along with the much larger Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC).
For some days Rutelli lingered on whether he was leaving the PD or not, maybe because the strategic goal of his initiative was that of forging a stable alliance between UDC/UdC and the Democrats, with Tabacci instrumental in that, so his departure was not to be traumatic. However on 31 October, through an interview to Corriere della Sera
, Rutelli announced that it was his intention to leave the PD immediately. In the interview he remarked how in his view social democracy
was "a historical experience that has no chance to speak to present-day people" and that his goal was to "unite democratic, liberal and popular forces" in order to "build, in some years time, the largest [political] force of the country".
On 8 December Tabacci left the UdC after that Casini had met with Berlusconi to discuss of justice reform and of an alliance between The People of Freedom
and UDC/UdC in some regions. Tabacci, who said he was going to assemble his fellow members of the White Rose, explained that the new party would be "distant and alternative to the populism of Berlusconi and of the League" but open to centre-right voters. For his part, Casini agreed with the move of Tabacci by saying that Rutelli needed to be reinforced and that their ways would meet one day.
On 11–12 December ApI organized its first assembly in Parma
. During the convention, which was attended by François Bayrou
, Guy Verhofstadt
and Will Marshall
, Rutelli confirmed that the new party is headed to merge with UDC some day and opened to an alliance with Gianfranco Fini
, the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies
who is increasingly uncomfortable with his party, The People of Freedom
, and Silvio Berlusconi
.
On 22 December the logo of the party was presented by Rutelli, Tabacci and tho other ApI leading members during a press conference.
By January 2010 parliamentary groups of the party were formed in the Senate
and the Chamber of Deputies
.
In March Rutelli announced for April a national convention, in which the party would have been enlarged to greens and liberals. Between March and April Christian Democratic Refoundation
party of Publio Fiori
, a group of liberals led by Valerio Zanone
, a former leader of the Italian Liberal Party
, Democratic senator and leader of Liberal PD
, and a group of greens led by Camillo Piazza, a former Green
deputy, joined the Alliance.
In late March regional elections
the party run joint lists with the UDC/UdC in most regions and run its own lists in only four regions: Marche
(where it gained 2.0% of the vote and one regional councillor), Campania
(3.0% and no councillors), Basilicata
(4.2% and one councillor) and Calabria
(2.2% and no councillors). The result was a little bit disappointing and the party had no real presence in the North.
This situation came into criticism by the Northern branches of the party and especially by Union for Trentino
(UpT) and Alliance for Veneto
(ApV), launched by Massimo Calearo
as a centrist competitor of Liga Veneta
–Lega Nord. Giorgio Lunelli, leading member of UpT, spoke for many Northern party members when he criticized the party's lack of interest for the North, called for Rutelli's resignation and proposed a confederal structure for the party. In September 2010 Calearo left ApI and ApV was thus disbanded.
along with the Union of the Centre, Future and Freedom
and some minor parties. Also in December Enrico Boselli
, long-time leader of the Italian Democratic Socialists
and founder of the Socialist Party, who had left active politics after his 2008 defeat, joined ApI and was soon appointed vice president of the party.
In November the party was joined by Santo Versace
, a former Socialist coming from The People of Freedom
.
, including Linda Lanzillotta, Gianni Vernetti
and Donato Mosella, but also a group of disgruntled centrists from Italy of Values
led by Pino Pisicchio and Giacinto Russo joined.
The party currently includes six deputies (Linda Lanzillotta, Donato Mosella, Pino Pisicchio, Bruno Tabacci
, Gianni Vernetti, Santo Versace
), six senators (Emanuela Baio, Franco Bruno, Giacinto Russo, Riccardo Milana, Claudio Molinari, Francesco Rutelli) and one MEP (Vincenzo Iovine, ex-Italy of Values).
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
political party in Italy.
The party, which is described in its manifesto as "democratic, liberal, popular" as opposed both to "right-wing populism
Right-wing populism
Right-wing populism is a political ideology that rejects existing political consensus and combines laissez-faire liberalism and anti-elitism. It is considered "right-wing" because of its rejection of social equality and government programs to achieve it, its opposition to social integration, and...
" and the "social-democratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
, an experience with high and memorable value, yet by now run out", was launched on 11 November 2009 by Francesco Rutelli, senator for the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Italy)
The Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy, that is the second-largest in the country. The party is led by Pier Luigi Bersani, who was elected in the 2009 leadership election....
(PD) and former leader of Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL). The core of the party is composed by the Free Democrats
Free Democrats (Italy)
The Free Democrats were the centrist faction within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy, around Francesco Rutelli, former leader of Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy, one of the two main parties that merged to form the PD in 2007.The faction was launched by Rutelli in June 2009 during...
, the faction Rutelli launched some months before leaving the PD.
The party is an observer member of the Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
.
Background
After that he was instrumental in its foundation, Rutelli early became uncomfortable with the PD which he saw as too stretched on the leftLeft-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
. In September 2009, when he was a guest at a party convention of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC) of Pier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini is an Italian politician.-Biography:President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2006...
, he told the press that he was interested in an alliance with the new party Casini was organizing through the Union of the Centre (UdC). Rutelli's critical view of the PD was reinforced by the election of Pier Luigi Bersani
Pier Luigi Bersani
Pier Luigi Bersani is an Italian politician and the current Secretary of the Democratic Party of Italy, the main center-left political party in Italy . He was Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftmanship from 1996 to 1999, Minister of Transports from 1999 to 2001, and Minister of Economic...
as party leader in a primary election
Democratic Party (Italy) leadership election, 2009
The 2009 Democratic Party leadership election was held in July–November 2009 following the resignation of Walter Veltroni in February 2009, after 16 months as secretary of the Democratic Party , the second-largest political party in Italy....
on 25 October 2009.
On 27 October, after months of speculation, Rutelli hinted that was leaving the PD. The core idea of Rutelli was that Italy needed a new "political proposal" in a time when the country is on the verge of splitting in two, with Lega Nord more than ever confident in the North and a the possible emergence of the Party of the South
Party of the South
The Party of the South is a proposed political party in Italy.The party is intended to be a merger of some regionalist parties active in Southern Italy, notably including the Movement for Autonomies of Raffaele Lombardo, along with splinter groups from The People of Freedom and possibly the...
: a scenario that could mean complete marginalization for the centre-left and its failure as a national political force.
Foundation
On 28 October Rutelli presented a "Manifesto for Change and Good Government" (Manifesto per il Cambiamento e il Buongoverno) along with other ten founding members. These included, among others, Lorenzo DellaiLorenzo Dellai
Lorenzo Dellai is an Italian politician, the governor of the province of Trentino and the President of the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol....
(President of the Province of Trento and leader of the Union for Trentino
Union for Trentino
The Union for Trentino is a regionalist centrist and Christian-democratic political party active in the province of Trentino, Italy. The party is currently led by Marco Tanas....
), Massimo Cacciari
Massimo Cacciari
Massimo Cacciari is an Italian philosopher and politician.Born in Venice, Massimo Cacciari graduated in philosophy from the University of Padua , where he also received his doctorate, writing a thesis on Immanuel Kant's "Critique of Judgment." In 1985, he became professor of Aesthetics at the...
, (Mayor of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
), Linda Lanzillotta (former Minister of Regional Affairs), Bruno Tabacci
Bruno Tabacci
Bruno Tabacci is an Italian politician, member of the Chamber of Deputies and Secretary of the White Rose party. In November 2009 he was one of the founding members of the new Alliance for Italy party.-Career:...
and Elvio Ubaldi. While Cacciari and Lanzillotta have been members of DL and then of the PD, Tabacci and Ubaldi are members of White Rose
White Rose (Italy)
The White Rose , whose official name is Popular Civic Federative Movement , is a Christian-democratic and centrist political party in Italy.-History:...
, a small outfit that was part of the Union of the Centre (UdC), led by Pier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini is an Italian politician.-Biography:President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2006...
, along with the much larger Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC).
For some days Rutelli lingered on whether he was leaving the PD or not, maybe because the strategic goal of his initiative was that of forging a stable alliance between UDC/UdC and the Democrats, with Tabacci instrumental in that, so his departure was not to be traumatic. However on 31 October, through an interview to Corriere della Sera
Corriere della Sera
The Corriere della Sera is an Italian daily newspaper, published in Milan.It is among the oldest and most reputable Italian newspapers. Its main rivals are Rome's La Repubblica and Turin's La Stampa.- History :...
, Rutelli announced that it was his intention to leave the PD immediately. In the interview he remarked how in his view social democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
was "a historical experience that has no chance to speak to present-day people" and that his goal was to "unite democratic, liberal and popular forces" in order to "build, in some years time, the largest [political] force of the country".
On 8 December Tabacci left the UdC after that Casini had met with Berlusconi to discuss of justice reform and of an alliance between The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
and UDC/UdC in some regions. Tabacci, who said he was going to assemble his fellow members of the White Rose, explained that the new party would be "distant and alternative to the populism of Berlusconi and of the League" but open to centre-right voters. For his part, Casini agreed with the move of Tabacci by saying that Rutelli needed to be reinforced and that their ways would meet one day.
Early times
On 11 November 2010, along with many others, Rutelli presented the name and the provisional logo of the party.On 11–12 December ApI organized its first assembly in Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
. During the convention, which was attended by François Bayrou
François Bayrou
François Bayrou is a French centrist politician, president of Union for French Democracy since 1998 and was a candidate in the 2002 and 2007 French presidential elections. In the first round, he received 18.6% of the vote, finishing in 3rd place and therefore was eliminated from the race....
, Guy Verhofstadt
Guy Verhofstadt
Guy Verhofstadt is a Belgian politician who was the 47th Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008. He is currently a Member of the European Parliament and leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.- Early career :...
and Will Marshall
Will Marshall
Will Marshall is one of the founders of the New Democrat movement, which aims to steer the US Democratic Party toward a more conservative orientation...
, Rutelli confirmed that the new party is headed to merge with UDC some day and opened to an alliance with Gianfranco Fini
Gianfranco Fini
Gianfranco Fini is an Italian politician, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, leader of the center-right Future and Freedom party, and the former leader of the conservative National Alliance and the post-fascist Italian Social Movement...
, the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
who is increasingly uncomfortable with his party, The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
, and Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
.
On 22 December the logo of the party was presented by Rutelli, Tabacci and tho other ApI leading members during a press conference.
By January 2010 parliamentary groups of the party were formed in the Senate
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
and the Chamber of Deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
.
In March Rutelli announced for April a national convention, in which the party would have been enlarged to greens and liberals. Between March and April Christian Democratic Refoundation
Christian Democratic Refoundation
Christian Democratic Refoundation is a minor Christian-democratic political party in Italy.It was founded in October 2006 as a split of the Christian Democracy for Autonomies and is led by Publio Fiori, a former right-wing Christian Democrat and, later, leading member of National Alliance from...
party of Publio Fiori
Publio Fiori
Publio Fiori is an Italian politician.-Career:Fiori was born in Rome and graduated in jurisprudence. He became a member of Democrazia Cristiana , to which he belonged for much of his political career....
, a group of liberals led by Valerio Zanone
Valerio Zanone
Valerio Zanone is an Italian politician, who was secretary and president of the Italian Liberal Party. He was also a senator of the Democratic Party.-Biography:Zanone was born in Turin....
, a former leader of the Italian Liberal Party
Italian Liberal Party
The Italian Liberal Party was a liberal political party in Italy.-Origins:The origins of liberalism in Italy came from the so-called "Historical Right", a parliamentary group formed by Camillo Benso di Cavour in the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sardinia following the 1848 revolution...
, Democratic senator and leader of Liberal PD
Liberal PD
The Liberal PD is a social-liberal faction within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy.It was launched on 26 January 2008 by Senator Enzo Bianco , former Minister Franco Bassanini , Senator Valerio Zanone and Senator Enrico Morando The Liberal PD (Liberal PD) is a social-liberal...
, and a group of greens led by Camillo Piazza, a former Green
Federation of the Greens
The Federation of the Greens is a green political party in Italy, which includes also a large eco-socialist faction. Since 2009 the party leader is Angelo Bonelli.-Early years:...
deputy, joined the Alliance.
In late March regional elections
Italian regional elections, 2010
A big round of regional elections in Italy took place on 28–29 March in 13 regions out of 20, including nine of the ten largest ones: Lombardy, Campania, Veneto, Lazio, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Apulia, Tuscany and Calabria...
the party run joint lists with the UDC/UdC in most regions and run its own lists in only four regions: Marche
Marche
The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
(where it gained 2.0% of the vote and one regional councillor), Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
(3.0% and no councillors), Basilicata
Basilicata
Basilicata , also known as Lucania, is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south, having one short southwestern coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Campania in the northwest and Calabria in the southwest, and a...
(4.2% and one councillor) and Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
(2.2% and no councillors). The result was a little bit disappointing and the party had no real presence in the North.
This situation came into criticism by the Northern branches of the party and especially by Union for Trentino
Union for Trentino
The Union for Trentino is a regionalist centrist and Christian-democratic political party active in the province of Trentino, Italy. The party is currently led by Marco Tanas....
(UpT) and Alliance for Veneto
Alliance for Veneto
Alliance for Veneto was a short-lived centrist political party in Veneto, that was the section of Alliance for Italy in Veneto....
(ApV), launched by Massimo Calearo
Massimo Calearo
Massimo Calearo Ciman is an Italian entrepreneur and politician from Veneto.Before entering politics he held several leadership roles within Confindustria, at local and national level...
as a centrist competitor of Liga Veneta
Liga Veneta
Liga Veneta is a regionalist political party based in Veneto, combining Venetism and fiscal federalism. Liga Veneta is by far the largest party in Veneto and the party of Luca Zaia, President of Veneto since March 2010.It was the first party of its kind in Northern Italy, predating Umberto...
–Lega Nord. Giorgio Lunelli, leading member of UpT, spoke for many Northern party members when he criticized the party's lack of interest for the North, called for Rutelli's resignation and proposed a confederal structure for the party. In September 2010 Calearo left ApI and ApV was thus disbanded.
New Pole for Italy
On 15 December 2010 ApI was a founding member of the centrist New Pole for ItalyNew Pole for Italy
The New Pole for Italy , referred also either as the Third Pole or Pole of the Nation , is a centre-right coalition of parties in Italy....
along with the Union of the Centre, Future and Freedom
Future and Freedom
Future and Freedom , whose complete name is Future and Freedom for Italy is a centre-right political party in Italy....
and some minor parties. Also in December Enrico Boselli
Enrico Boselli
Enrico Boselli is an Italian politician. He is currently Vice President of Alliance for Italy, and is the former leader of the Italian Democratic Socialists and the modern-day Italian Socialist Party....
, long-time leader of the Italian Democratic Socialists
Italian Democratic Socialists
The Italian Democratic Socialists were a small social-democratic political party in Italy. Led by Enrico Boselli, the party was the direct continuation of the Italian Socialists, the legal successor of the historical Italian Socialist Party...
and founder of the Socialist Party, who had left active politics after his 2008 defeat, joined ApI and was soon appointed vice president of the party.
In November the party was joined by Santo Versace
Santo Versace
Santo Versace is the president and co-chief executive officer of Gianni Versace SpA, based in Milan, Italy. Since 2008 he has been elected as Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic in the constituency of Calabria...
, a former Socialist coming from The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
.
Members
Most party members are liberals or Christian democrats coming from the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (Italy)
The Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy, that is the second-largest in the country. The party is led by Pier Luigi Bersani, who was elected in the 2009 leadership election....
, including Linda Lanzillotta, Gianni Vernetti
Gianni Vernetti
-Early life:Vernetti was born in Torino, Italy. In 1985 he obtained a degree in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Torino. In 1987 he was awarded a PhD in Urban Ecology from the Politecnico di Milano university.-Career:...
and Donato Mosella, but also a group of disgruntled centrists from Italy of Values
Italy of Values
Italy of Values is a centrist, populist and anti-corruption political party in Italy. The party, which is affiliated to the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party , is headed by former Mani pulite prosecutor Antonio Di Pietro, who entered politics in 1996.The party aims to gather and give...
led by Pino Pisicchio and Giacinto Russo joined.
The party currently includes six deputies (Linda Lanzillotta, Donato Mosella, Pino Pisicchio, Bruno Tabacci
Bruno Tabacci
Bruno Tabacci is an Italian politician, member of the Chamber of Deputies and Secretary of the White Rose party. In November 2009 he was one of the founding members of the new Alliance for Italy party.-Career:...
, Gianni Vernetti, Santo Versace
Santo Versace
Santo Versace is the president and co-chief executive officer of Gianni Versace SpA, based in Milan, Italy. Since 2008 he has been elected as Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic in the constituency of Calabria...
), six senators (Emanuela Baio, Franco Bruno, Giacinto Russo, Riccardo Milana, Claudio Molinari, Francesco Rutelli) and one MEP (Vincenzo Iovine, ex-Italy of Values).
Leadership
- President: Francesco Rutelli (2009–present)
- Vice President: Pino Pisicchio (2010–present), Enrico BoselliEnrico BoselliEnrico Boselli is an Italian politician. He is currently Vice President of Alliance for Italy, and is the former leader of the Italian Democratic Socialists and the modern-day Italian Socialist Party....
(2010–present)
- Vice President: Pino Pisicchio (2010–present), Enrico Boselli
- Coordinator: Lorenzo DellaiLorenzo DellaiLorenzo Dellai is an Italian politician, the governor of the province of Trentino and the President of the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol....
(2009–present) - President of the National Council: Bruno TabacciBruno TabacciBruno Tabacci is an Italian politician, member of the Chamber of Deputies and Secretary of the White Rose party. In November 2009 he was one of the founding members of the new Alliance for Italy party.-Career:...
(2010–present) - Spokesperson: Bruno TabacciBruno TabacciBruno Tabacci is an Italian politician, member of the Chamber of Deputies and Secretary of the White Rose party. In November 2009 he was one of the founding members of the new Alliance for Italy party.-Career:...
(2009–2010), Linda Lanzillotta (2010–present)