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Democratic Left (Italy)
Encyclopedia
Democratic Left was a democratic socialist
political party in Italy.
It was founded on 5 May 2007 by splinters of the Democrats of the Left
(DS) centred around Fabio Mussi
and Gavino Angius
, who opposed the merger of the DS into the Democratic Party
. According to its leading members at its foundation, Democratic Left was to be not a party, but a "movement" with the goal to unite the entire Italian left, from Communist Refoundation Party
to the Italian Democratic Socialists
.
On 22-24 October 2010, Democratic Left merged into Left Ecology Freedom when the latter was transformed from an alliance of left-wing parties into a united party.
(DS) held in Florence
their last congress in order to ratify the move towards the foundation of the new Democratic Party
, along with the centrist
s of Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy. In opposition to Piero Fassino
's resolution that proposed the congress to dissolve the party, two resolutions were tabled by supporters of the factions led by Fabio Mussi
and Gavino Angius
(who formed Socialists and Europeans together with Mauro Zani
): the first opposed in any form the foundation of the PD, whilst the second was favourable only in the event that the new party was to join the Party of European Socialists
and thus represented a more "wait and see" attitude. These resolutions managed to garner around 25% of the vote.
Following the congress, a large majority of Mussi's followers, with a few notable exceptions such as Vincenzo Vita, left the DS. This was consistent with their declared position prior to the Florence congress. In contrast, Angius' sudden departure from DS after the congress was somewhat surprising and arguably inconsistent with the position adopted by the supporters of the Angius-Zani resolution prior to and during the congress itself. Consequently rather than follow Angius out of the party some of the most significant supporters of the motion, including Mauro Zani, Massimo Brutti and Sergio Gentili opted to stay inside DS.
, Party of Italian Communists
and Communist Refoundation Party
), and those around Angius, who were keener on an alliance with the Italian Democratic Socialists
. In September Democracy and Socialism
, led by Angius and Valdo Spini
, joined the "Socialist Constituent Assembly" and committed themselves to the foundation of a social-democratic
party in the tradition of the old Italian Socialist Party
. Finally, in October 2007, Angius and his group left SD, which they considered to be too left-wing politically, to found the Socialist Party.
The party suffered another split in February 2008 when Famiano Crucianelli, Olga D'Antona, Paolo Nerozzi, Massimo Cialente and Gianfranco Pagliarulo (a former member of the Party of Italian Communists) abandoned SD in order to join the Democratic Party, through an association named Left for the Country
.
The Left – The Rainbow
, of which the Democratic Left was a part along with the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC), the Party of Italian Communists (PdCI) and the Federation of the Greens, gained 3.1% of the vote and failed to win any seats in the Italian Parliament.
After the election, Oliviero Diliberto
, leader of PdCI, considered the experience of a "united left" finished and proposed a "communist constituent assembly" and the PRC elected Paolo Ferrero
, from the internal left-wing, as party secretary. Despite these events, Democratic Left proposed a "left-wing constituent assembly" as a bridge between the "European socialism" and "the alternative left".
In the run up to the 2009 European Parliament election
SD planned to form a joint list with the Movement for the Left
, the Federation of the Greens
and Unite the Left
in a sort of re-edition of The Left – The Rainbow. The list, with the additional participation of the Socialist Party, was named Left and Freedom and was launched on 16 March 2009. The list received just 3.1% of the national vote and failed to return any MEPs. The list was eventually renamed Left Ecology Freedom and was founded as a united political party on 22-24 October 2010.
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
political party in Italy.
It was founded on 5 May 2007 by splinters of the Democrats 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...
(DS) centred around Fabio Mussi
Fabio Mussi
Fabio Mussi is an Italian politician, formerly Minister of University and Research in the Prodi II Cabinet. A former member of Italian Communist Party and then Democrats of the Left, he became a lead founding member of the Democratic Left...
and Gavino Angius
Gavino Angius
Gavino Angius is an Italian politician.-Biography:Born at Sassari , after the degree in Political Sciences, he became a member of the Italian Communist Party , for which he was secretary of his city's section...
, who opposed the merger of the DS into 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....
. According to its leading members at its foundation, Democratic Left was to be not a party, but a "movement" with the goal to unite the entire Italian left, from Communist Refoundation Party
Communist Refoundation Party
The Communist Refoundation Party is a communist Italian political party. Its current secretary is Paolo Ferrero....
to 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...
.
On 22-24 October 2010, Democratic Left merged into Left Ecology Freedom when the latter was transformed from an alliance of left-wing parties into a united party.
Foundation
In April 2007 the Democrats of the LeftDemocrats 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...
(DS) held in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
their last congress in order to ratify the move towards the foundation of the new 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....
, along with the centrist
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...
s of Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy. In opposition 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:...
's resolution that proposed the congress to dissolve the party, two resolutions were tabled by supporters of the factions led by Fabio Mussi
Fabio Mussi
Fabio Mussi is an Italian politician, formerly Minister of University and Research in the Prodi II Cabinet. A former member of Italian Communist Party and then Democrats of the Left, he became a lead founding member of the Democratic Left...
and Gavino Angius
Gavino Angius
Gavino Angius is an Italian politician.-Biography:Born at Sassari , after the degree in Political Sciences, he became a member of the Italian Communist Party , for which he was secretary of his city's section...
(who formed Socialists and Europeans together with Mauro Zani
Mauro Zani
Mauro Zani is an Italian politician and Member of the European Parliament for the North-East with the Democrats of the Left , part of the Socialist Group, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Development....
): the first opposed in any form the foundation of the PD, whilst the second was favourable only in the event that the new party was to join the Party of European Socialists
Party of European Socialists
The Party of European Socialists is a European political party led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The PES comprises social-democratic national-level political parties primarily from Member state of the European Union, as well as other nations of the European continent. The...
and thus represented a more "wait and see" attitude. These resolutions managed to garner around 25% of the vote.
Following the congress, a large majority of Mussi's followers, with a few notable exceptions such as Vincenzo Vita, left the DS. This was consistent with their declared position prior to the Florence congress. In contrast, Angius' sudden departure from DS after the congress was somewhat surprising and arguably inconsistent with the position adopted by the supporters of the Angius-Zani resolution prior to and during the congress itself. Consequently rather than follow Angius out of the party some of the most significant supporters of the motion, including Mauro Zani, Massimo Brutti and Sergio Gentili opted to stay inside DS.
Early splits
Since its foundation, SD was divided between supporters of Mussi, who proposed to strengthen the links of the party with the far left (Federation of the GreensFederation 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:...
, Party of Italian Communists
Party of Italian Communists
The Party of Italian Communists is a communist political party in Italy. Its long-time leader is Oliviero Diliberto.-Foundation and early years:...
and Communist Refoundation Party
Communist Refoundation Party
The Communist Refoundation Party is a communist Italian political party. Its current secretary is Paolo Ferrero....
), and those around Angius, who were keener on an alliance with 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...
. In September Democracy and Socialism
Democracy and Socialism
Democracy and Socialism is a social-democratic political association in Italy. During the years it has been a faction within the Democrats of the Left, the Socialist Party and finally the Democratic Party, where it is now...
, led by Angius and Valdo Spini
Valdo Spini
Valdo Spini is an Italian politician and writer.A long-time member of the Italian Socialist Party , in 1994 he founded the Labour Federation , of which he was leader until FL merged into the Democrats of the Left . Since then, he was a leading member of the Socialist faction within DS. .Elected MP...
, joined the "Socialist Constituent Assembly" and committed themselves to the foundation of a 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...
party in the tradition of the old Italian Socialist Party
Italian Socialist Party
The Italian Socialist Party was a socialist and later social-democratic political party in Italy founded in Genoa in 1892.Once the dominant leftist party in Italy, it was eclipsed in status by the Italian Communist Party following World War II...
. Finally, in October 2007, Angius and his group left SD, which they considered to be too left-wing politically, to found the Socialist Party.
The party suffered another split in February 2008 when Famiano Crucianelli, Olga D'Antona, Paolo Nerozzi, Massimo Cialente and Gianfranco Pagliarulo (a former member of the Party of Italian Communists) abandoned SD in order to join the Democratic Party, through an association named Left for the Country
Left for the Country
Left for the Country was a democratic-socialist faction within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy....
.
Out of Parliament
In the 2008 general electionItalian general election, 2008
A snap general election was held in Italy on 13 April and 14 April 2008. The election came after President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved parliament on 6 February 2008 following the defeat of the government of Prime Minister Romano Prodi in a January 2008 Senate vote, and the unsuccessful tentative...
The Left – The Rainbow
The Left – The Rainbow
The Left – The Rainbow , frequently referred as Rainbow Left , was a left-wing federation of parties in Italy....
, of which the Democratic Left was a part along with the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC), the Party of Italian Communists (PdCI) and the Federation of the Greens, gained 3.1% of the vote and failed to win any seats in the Italian Parliament.
After the election, Oliviero Diliberto
Oliviero Diliberto
Oliviero Diliberto is an Italian politician. He is the current leader of the Party of Italian Communists.- Early life :...
, leader of PdCI, considered the experience of a "united left" finished and proposed a "communist constituent assembly" and the PRC elected Paolo Ferrero
Paolo Ferrero
Paolo Ferrero is an Italian politician, member of the Communist Refoundation Party and former Italian Minister of Social Solidarity in the Prodi II Cabinet.-Career:...
, from the internal left-wing, as party secretary. Despite these events, Democratic Left proposed a "left-wing constituent assembly" as a bridge between the "European socialism" and "the alternative left".
In the run up to the 2009 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2009 (Italy)
European elections to elect 72 members of the European Parliament representing Italy were held on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2009, as decided by the Italian government on December 18, 2008...
SD planned to form a joint list with the Movement for the Left
Movement for the Left
Movement for the Left was a socialist and communist political party in Italy, emerged by a split from the Communist Refoundation Party...
, the Federation of the Greens
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:...
and Unite the Left
Unite the Left
Unite the Left is the minority faction within the Party of Italian Communists , a political party in Italy. Its leaders include former minister Katia Belillo and MEP Umberto Guidoni....
in a sort of re-edition of The Left – The Rainbow. The list, with the additional participation of the Socialist Party, was named Left and Freedom and was launched on 16 March 2009. The list received just 3.1% of the national vote and failed to return any MEPs. The list was eventually renamed Left Ecology Freedom and was founded as a united political party on 22-24 October 2010.
Leadership
- Political Coordinator: Fabio MussiFabio MussiFabio Mussi is an Italian politician, formerly Minister of University and Research in the Prodi II Cabinet. A former member of Italian Communist Party and then Democrats of the Left, he became a lead founding member of the Democratic Left...
(2007–2008), Claudio FavaClaudio FavaGiovanni Claudio Fava is an Italian politician .He is currently the Coordinator of the National Secretariat of Sinistra Ecologia Libertà .He was until 2009 Member of the European Parliament for the Italian Islands with the Democratic Left , part of the Socialist Group and is vice-chair of the...
(2008–present)- Executive Coordinator: Marco Fumagalli (2007-present)
- President of the National Council: Fabio MussiFabio MussiFabio Mussi is an Italian politician, formerly Minister of University and Research in the Prodi II Cabinet. A former member of Italian Communist Party and then Democrats of the Left, he became a lead founding member of the Democratic Left...
(2008–present) - President of the National Bureau: Pasqualina NapoletanoPasqualina NapoletanoPasqualina Napoletano is an Italian politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Central region with the Democratici di Sinistra, a Vice-Chairwoman of the Socialist Group, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade.She is a substitute for the Committee on...
(2008–present)
- Party Leader in the Chamber of DeputiesItalian Chamber of DeputiesThe 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...
: Titti Di Salvo (2007–2008) - Party Leader in the SenateItalian SenateThe 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...
: Cesare Salvi (2007–2008) - Party Leader in the European ParliamentEuropean ParliamentThe European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
: Claudio FavaClaudio FavaGiovanni Claudio Fava is an Italian politician .He is currently the Coordinator of the National Secretariat of Sinistra Ecologia Libertà .He was until 2009 Member of the European Parliament for the Italian Islands with the Democratic Left , part of the Socialist Group and is vice-chair of the...
(2007–present)