Democratic Area
Encyclopedia
Democratic Area is a broad faction within the Democratic Party
(PD), a political party in Italy.
The faction coordinator is Marina Sereni, a former Democrat of the Left
close to Piero Fassino
. On the issues, AD distances itself from social democracy
, opposes any "compromise over legality" and justice with Silvio Berlusconi
and supports voters' participation to the life of the party through primaries.
The grouping was launched soon after the defeat of Franceschini, party leader since the departure of Walter Veltroni
, by Pier Luigi Bersani
in the 2009 leadership election
and, at its foundation, comprised almost 150 MPs and MEPs of the party. AD served as board of coordination between the six main sub-groups which supported Franceschini's bid: Veltroniani
, Fassiniani, Populars
/Fourth Phase
, Simply Democrats
, Liberal PD
and Democratic Ecologists
.
In February 2010 there was a clash between Veltroniani and Franceschiniani over the choice of the candidate for President in Umbria
. The friction was resolved, but Veltroni chose to launch a think tank named Democratica that could eventually become a new faction. In April the faction held an assembly in Cortona
, attended also by Veltroni, Fassino, Franco Marini
and Giuseppe Fioroni
, during which Franceschini spoke openly of a possible separation from the party if it does not stick back to its original nature of a broad centre-left party committed to primaries.
However, by September 2010, both Franceschini and Fassino had re-approached with Bersani, a move which was not approved by Veltroni and Fioroni. The latter formed Democratic Movement
to defend the "original spirit" of the PD. In doing this they were supported by 75 deputies: 33 Veltroniani, 35 Populars close to Fioroni and 7 former Rutelliani
led by Paolo Gentiloni
. During a meeting of the party's national board, held on 23 September, Franceschiniani and Fassiniani voted a motion proposed by Bersani (thus entering the party's majority), while most Veltroniani abstained from the vote: the resolution was passed by a landslide. It was the end of AD, as Franceschini soon acknowledged. The faction however continued to be active within the party majority.
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), a political party in Italy.
The faction coordinator is Marina Sereni, a former Democrat of the Left
Democrats of the Left
The Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
close to Piero Fassino
Piero Fassino
Pietro Franco "Piero" Fassino is an Italian politician with the Democratic Party, the current Mayor of Turin and a former national secretary of the Democrats of the Left party.-Biography:...
. On the issues, AD distances itself from 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...
, opposes any "compromise over legality" and justice with 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...
and supports voters' participation to the life of the party through primaries.
The grouping was launched soon after the defeat of Franceschini, party leader since the departure of Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni, Knight Grand Cross, is an Italian writer, journalist and politician, who served as the first leader of the Democratic Party within the centre-left opposition, until his resignation on 17 February 2009. He served as Mayor of Rome from 2001 to 2008.-Biography:Walter Veltroni was...
, by 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...
in the 2009 leadership 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....
and, at its foundation, comprised almost 150 MPs and MEPs of the party. AD served as board of coordination between the six main sub-groups which supported Franceschini's bid: Veltroniani
Veltroniani
Veltroniani refers to the faction around Walter Veltroni, leader of the Democratic Party, a political party in Italy, from 2007 to 2009. Most of them are social democrats coming from the Democrats of the Left....
, Fassiniani, Populars
The Populars
The Populars is a loose association within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy.The Populars are the heirs of the Italian People's Party, a christian-democratic party of the Christian left, and of the left-wing of the late Christian Democracy...
/Fourth Phase
Fourth Phase
Fourth Phase is a faction within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy.The name of the faction was chosen to identify the new stage of left-wing Catholics in Italian politics, the first three being within the Italian People's Party , the Christian Democracy and the Italian People's...
, Simply Democrats
Simply Democrats
Simply Democrats was a heterogeneous faction within the Democratic Party, a political party in Italy.At the 2009 leadership election the group supported the candidacy of Dario Franceschini, who eventually lost to Pier Luigi Bersani.Serracchiani and Filippo Civati...
, 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 Democratic Ecologists
Democratic Ecologists
The Democratic Ecologists are a green faction within the Italian Democratic Party .Its leaders are Ermete Realacci and Fabrizio Vigni and its composed by both former members of the Democrats of the Left and Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy The Democratic Ecologists (Ecologisti Democratici,...
.
In February 2010 there was a clash between Veltroniani and Franceschiniani over the choice of the candidate for President in Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
. The friction was resolved, but Veltroni chose to launch a think tank named Democratica that could eventually become a new faction. In April the faction held an assembly in Cortona
Cortona
Cortona is a town and comune in the province of Arezzo, in Tuscany, Italy. It is the main cultural and artistic center of the Val di Chiana after Arezzo.-History:...
, attended also by Veltroni, Fassino, Franco Marini
Franco Marini
Franco Marini is an Italian politician and a prominent member of the centre-left Democratic Party. From 2006 to 2008 he was President of the Italian Senate.-Biography:...
and Giuseppe Fioroni
Giuseppe Fioroni
Giuseppe Fioroni , often nicknamed Beppe, is an Italian politician, member of the Democratic Party and formerly the Italian Minister of Education in the Prodi II Cabinet from 2006 to 2008....
, during which Franceschini spoke openly of a possible separation from the party if it does not stick back to its original nature of a broad centre-left party committed to primaries.
However, by September 2010, both Franceschini and Fassino had re-approached with Bersani, a move which was not approved by Veltroni and Fioroni. The latter formed Democratic Movement
Democratic Movement (Italy)
Democratic Movement is a faction within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy.At the 2009 leadership election Dario Franceschini was defeated by Pier Luigi Bersani...
to defend the "original spirit" of the PD. In doing this they were supported by 75 deputies: 33 Veltroniani, 35 Populars close to Fioroni and 7 former Rutelliani
Rutelliani
Rutelliani refers to the group around Francesco Rutelli, a former leading member of the Democratic Party, a political party in Italy, and later leader of Alliance for Italy...
led by Paolo Gentiloni
Paolo Gentiloni
Paolo Gentiloni is an Italian politician, member of the Daisy—Democracy is Freedom party and currently the Italian Minister of Communications.-Biography:He is a professional journalist and has a degree in political sciences....
. During a meeting of the party's national board, held on 23 September, Franceschiniani and Fassiniani voted a motion proposed by Bersani (thus entering the party's majority), while most Veltroniani abstained from the vote: the resolution was passed by a landslide. It was the end of AD, as Franceschini soon acknowledged. The faction however continued to be active within the party majority.