Independence Republic of Sardinia
Encyclopedia
Independence Republic of Sardinia (Indipendèntzia Repùbrica de Sardigna, IRS) is a social-democratic
and non-violent
separatist
political party in Sardinia. The party led by Gavino Sale supports the foundation of a republic of Sardinia and its independence from Italy
.
(Franciscu Sedda, Frantziscu Sanna and Franciscu Pala), and a splinter group from Sardinia Nation
(SN) led by Gavino Sale. The latter and his followers left SN because of its alliance with the Sardinian Action Party
(PSd'Az), which does not support overt independentism.
As soon as in 2004 (when Sale won 1.9% of the vote in the regional election
) IRS absorbed virtually all the voters of Sardinia Nation, thanks to the charismatic leadership of Sale, a more coherent and instransigent secessionist platform and a more centrist political position. In the 2006 general election IRS won 1.1% of the vote in Sardinia, while it chose to boycott the 2008 election in order not to be party in crime with the Italian political system.
Gavino Sale won 3.1% of the vote (4.2% in the Province of Oristano
and 3.3% in the Province of Sassari
, where the party had its early strongholds) as candidate for President of the Region, while the party stopped at 2.1%, short of the 3% threshold needed to enter the Regional Council.
At the 2010 provincial elections IRS candidates for president gained more than 2% of the vote in all the provinces and the party obtained its best result ever. Among the best results, Gavino Sale won 6.5% in Sassari
(party list 5.8%), Sebastian Madau 5.9% (5.8%) in Oristano
and Salvatore Bussa 4.4% (4.2%) in Nuoro
.
In October Demuru threatened her resignation and reclaimed more internal democracy within the party. Sale, for his part, replied that he rejected an intelletual-chic party as that imagined by Demuru and her supporters, who included the three founding members Franciscu Sedda, Frantziscu Sanna and Franciscu Pala, plus younger intellectuals such as Michela Murgia. During a grassroots' meeting on 12 December, Sale accused Demuru and the young guard of conspiring against him and, after this accusation, he was expelled from the party by the executive composed by Demuru's loyalists.
By the end of December Sale was sure to have won the power struggle and suspended the members of the executive who had expelled him. A few days later, on 2 January 2010, the group of Demuru and Sedda finally decided to leave the party and launch a "Republican Constituent Assembly" (Sa Costituente Repubricana). In February the new party took the name of Project Republic of Sardinia
(ProgReS). Moreover, on 10 February, Claudia Zuncheddu left the Red Moors
, party of which she was president, and joined IRS. This was a historical event because, as Zuncheddu was a regional councillor, the party was represented in the Regional Council for the first time. In May 2011 Zuncheddu ran for Mayor of Cagliari
and gained just 2.4% of the vote, however much better than Demuru, who got a poor 0.4%.
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...
and non-violent
Nonviolence
Nonviolence has two meanings. It can refer, first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle It can refer to the behaviour of people using nonviolent action Nonviolence has two (closely related) meanings. (1) It can refer, first, to a general...
separatist
Separatism
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
political party in Sardinia. The party led by Gavino Sale supports the foundation of a republic of Sardinia and its independence from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Early years
The party emerged in 2001–2002 by the merger of Su Cuncordu, a separatist platform animated by three Sardinian intellectuals living in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
(Franciscu Sedda, Frantziscu Sanna and Franciscu Pala), and a splinter group from Sardinia Nation
Sardinia Nation
Sardinia Nation is a minor separatist and democratic-socialist political party in Sardinia, Italy. Its leader is Bustianu Cumpostu.-History:...
(SN) led by Gavino Sale. The latter and his followers left SN because of its alliance with the Sardinian Action Party
Sardinian Action Party
The Sardinian Action Party is a regionalist social-democratic political party in Sardinia, which has recently sided with The People of Freedom, the largest centre-right party in Italy.-History:...
(PSd'Az), which does not support overt independentism.
As soon as in 2004 (when Sale won 1.9% of the vote in the regional election
Sardinian regional election, 2004
The Sardinian regional election of 2004 took place on 12 -13 June 2004.The election had two main competitors: Mauro Pili for the centre-right and Renato Soru for the centre-left. Soru won easily over Pili, who had been President of the Region from 2001 to 2003...
) IRS absorbed virtually all the voters of Sardinia Nation, thanks to the charismatic leadership of Sale, a more coherent and instransigent secessionist platform and a more centrist political position. In the 2006 general election IRS won 1.1% of the vote in Sardinia, while it chose to boycott the 2008 election in order not to be party in crime with the Italian political system.
Golden age
At the 2009 regional electionSardinian regional election, 2009
The Sardinian regional election of 2009 took place on 15-16 February 2009.Ugo Cappellacci, the centre-right candidate, defeated Renato Soru, the centre-left incumbent President, by a large margin and The People of Freedom was by far the largest party...
Gavino Sale won 3.1% of the vote (4.2% in the Province of Oristano
Province of Oristano
Oristano is a province in the autonomous island region of Sardinia in Italy. Its capital is the city of Oristano.It has an area of 3,040 km², and a total population of 167,971 . There are 88 municipalities in the province ). As of June 2005, the main communes by population are:-Politics:-External...
and 3.3% in the Province of Sassari
Province of Sassari
The Province of Sassari is a province in the autonomous island region of Sardinia in Italy. Its capital is the city of Sassari.-Geography:It has an area of 4,282 km², and a total population of 322,326 . There are 66 municipalities in the province, the largest of which are Sassari The...
, where the party had its early strongholds) as candidate for President of the Region, while the party stopped at 2.1%, short of the 3% threshold needed to enter the Regional Council.
At the 2010 provincial elections IRS candidates for president gained more than 2% of the vote in all the provinces and the party obtained its best result ever. Among the best results, Gavino Sale won 6.5% in Sassari
Province of Sassari
The Province of Sassari is a province in the autonomous island region of Sardinia in Italy. Its capital is the city of Sassari.-Geography:It has an area of 4,282 km², and a total population of 322,326 . There are 66 municipalities in the province, the largest of which are Sassari The...
(party list 5.8%), Sebastian Madau 5.9% (5.8%) in Oristano
Province of Oristano
Oristano is a province in the autonomous island region of Sardinia in Italy. Its capital is the city of Oristano.It has an area of 3,040 km², and a total population of 167,971 . There are 88 municipalities in the province ). As of June 2005, the main communes by population are:-Politics:-External...
and Salvatore Bussa 4.4% (4.2%) in Nuoro
Province of Nuoro
The Province of Nuoro is a province in the autonomous island region of Sardinia, Italy. Its capital is the city of Nuoro.It has an area of 3,934 km², and a total population of 161,444. The province is divided into 52 comuni, the largest of which are Nuoro , Siniscola , Macomer , and Dorgali...
.
Internal splits
In January 2010, during a party congress, Ornella Demuru was elected secretary of the party, replacing Gavino Sale, who was elected president, and representing a power shift within the party from the old guard and younger activists. Notwithstanding the good results of the party at the 2010 provincial elections, the relation between Sale and Demuru was tense from the beginning.In October Demuru threatened her resignation and reclaimed more internal democracy within the party. Sale, for his part, replied that he rejected an intelletual-chic party as that imagined by Demuru and her supporters, who included the three founding members Franciscu Sedda, Frantziscu Sanna and Franciscu Pala, plus younger intellectuals such as Michela Murgia. During a grassroots' meeting on 12 December, Sale accused Demuru and the young guard of conspiring against him and, after this accusation, he was expelled from the party by the executive composed by Demuru's loyalists.
By the end of December Sale was sure to have won the power struggle and suspended the members of the executive who had expelled him. A few days later, on 2 January 2010, the group of Demuru and Sedda finally decided to leave the party and launch a "Republican Constituent Assembly" (Sa Costituente Repubricana). In February the new party took the name of Project Republic of Sardinia
Project Republic of Sardinia
ProgReS - Project Republic of Sardinia is an independentist social-democratic political party in Sardinia.The party was founded in January 2011 following a split from Independence Republic of Sardinia...
(ProgReS). Moreover, on 10 February, Claudia Zuncheddu left the Red Moors
Red Moors
Red Moors is a regionalist social-democratic political party in Sardinia.The party was founded in 2009 as a split from the Sardinian Action Party, after that the latter had signed an electoral pact with The People of Freedom, the main centre-right party in Italy.In the 2009 regional election the...
, party of which she was president, and joined IRS. This was a historical event because, as Zuncheddu was a regional councillor, the party was represented in the Regional Council for the first time. In May 2011 Zuncheddu ran for Mayor of Cagliari
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
and gained just 2.4% of the vote, however much better than Demuru, who got a poor 0.4%.
Leadership
- Secretary: Gavino Sale (2002–2010), Ornella Demuru (2010–2011)
- President: Gavino Sale (2010–...)