Scajoliani
Encyclopedia
Scajoliani refers to the faction around Claudio Scajola
, a leading member of The People of Freedom
(PdL), a political party in Italy.
The group wielded particular influence within Forza Italia (FI), the main precursor of PdL. Scajola and his allies proposed a stronger party organization, differently from another major group, the Dellutriani
, named after senator Marcello Dell'Utri
. After the defeat in the 1996 general election
, Silvio Berlusconi
appointed Scajola national coordinator of the party. During the subsequent five years in charge of party organization (1996–2001), Scajola built FI as a modern mass party and prepared it for the huge electoral victories of 1999–2001 (European Parliament election
, regional elections and general election
).
After having left active politics for a while in 2010, Scajola soon started to re-organize his faction, whose leading members included Massimo Berruti, Paolo Russo, Maria Teresa Armosino, Ignazio Abrignani, Michele Scandroglio, Salvatore Cicu, Sandro Biasotti, Roberto Cassinelli
, Raffaele Lauro, Paolo Tancredi and Giustina Destro
. Most of them were former Christian Democrats
, while others shared with Scajola the regional upbringing, hailing from Liguria
, Scajola's power base, or neighbouring Piedmont
.
In November 2010 the Christopher Columbus Foundation
(FCL) was formed by Scajola in order to help the PdL discover again the original spirit of FI. The association was joined by Scajoliani and also by Antonio Martino
, a former Liberal
who was number two of FI in 1994 and minister of Foreign Affairs in Berlusconi's first government
, as well as other liberals, such as Gregorio Fontana, and leading Christian democrats of the party, including Mario Baccini
and Osvaldo Napoli.
Claudio Scajola
Claudio Scajola is an Italian politician.-Career:A long-time Christian Democrat, he was mayor of Imperia in the Eighties, as his father and his brother had been. When Christian Democracy disbanded, he joined Forza Italia in 1995. He was then elected deputy in 1996 and was national coordinator of...
, a leading member of 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....
(PdL), a political party in Italy.
The group wielded particular influence within Forza Italia (FI), the main precursor of PdL. Scajola and his allies proposed a stronger party organization, differently from another major group, the Dellutriani
Dellutriani
Dellutriani refers to the faction around Marcello Dell'Utri, a leading member of Forza Italia and, later, of The People of Freedom, a political party in Italy...
, named after senator Marcello Dell'Utri
Marcello Dell'Utri
Marcello Dell'Utri is an influential Italian politician and senior advisor to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi...
. After the defeat in the 1996 general election
Italian general election, 1996
An early national general election was held in Italy on 21 April, 1996 to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic...
, 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...
appointed Scajola national coordinator of the party. During the subsequent five years in charge of party organization (1996–2001), Scajola built FI as a modern mass party and prepared it for the huge electoral victories of 1999–2001 (European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 1999 (Italy)
The European Parliament election of 1999 in Italy was the election of the delegation from Italy to the European Parliament in 1999.-References:...
, regional elections and general election
Italian general election, 2001
A national general election was held in Italy on May 13, 2001 to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. The 14th Parliament of the Italian republic was chosen....
).
After having left active politics for a while in 2010, Scajola soon started to re-organize his faction, whose leading members included Massimo Berruti, Paolo Russo, Maria Teresa Armosino, Ignazio Abrignani, Michele Scandroglio, Salvatore Cicu, Sandro Biasotti, Roberto Cassinelli
Roberto Cassinelli
Roberto Cassinelli is an Italian politician and lawyer, Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies.-Studies and professional life:Cassinelli was born in Genoa, and attended the catholic college Vittorino da Feltre in the same city...
, Raffaele Lauro, Paolo Tancredi and Giustina Destro
Giustina Destro
Giustina Mistrello Destro is an Italian politician and entrepreneur.An entrepreneur by profession, Destro joined politics relatively late in her life. In 1999 she formed a list for Padua municipal election and ran as an independent candidate for mayor, with the support of centre-right parties,...
. Most of them were former Christian Democrats
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
, while others shared with Scajola the regional upbringing, hailing from Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
, Scajola's power base, or neighbouring Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
.
In November 2010 the Christopher Columbus Foundation
Christopher Columbus Foundation
The Christopher Columbus Foundation, whose complete name is Christopher Columbus Foundation for Freedoms is a faction and think tank within The People of Freedom , a political party in Italy...
(FCL) was formed by Scajola in order to help the PdL discover again the original spirit of FI. The association was joined by Scajoliani and also by Antonio Martino
Antonio Martino
Antonio Martino is an Italian politician, who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1994 and Italian Minister of Defense from 2001 to 2006. He is a founding member of Forza Italia, holding party card no. 2.-Career:...
, a former Liberal
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...
who was number two of FI in 1994 and minister of Foreign Affairs in Berlusconi's first government
Berlusconi I Cabinet
The Berlusconi I Cabinet was the cabinet of the government of Italy from 10 May 1994 to January 17, 1995.It was composed of 26 ministers and 38 under-secretaries, for a total of 64 members.Composition of the government:...
, as well as other liberals, such as Gregorio Fontana, and leading Christian democrats of the party, including Mario Baccini
Mario Baccini
Mario Baccini is an Italian politician, former member of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats and promoter of the White Rose.He started his political activity as town councilor in Rome, for the Christian Democracy...
and Osvaldo Napoli.