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Socialist Party (Italy)
Encyclopedia
The Italian Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Italiano, PSI) is a minor social-democratic
political party in Italy.
The party was founded in 2007–2008 by the merger of six minor social-democratic parties and groups: the Italian Democratic Socialists
, Democracy and Socialism
, The Italian Socialists, the Socialist Party–De Michelis
, the Association for the Rose in the Fist
and Socialism is Freedom. Until 7 October 2009, the party was known as the Socialist Party (Partito Socialista, PS).
(PSI), disbanded in 1994 as a result of Tangentopoli
scandals, was initially proposed by Enrico Boselli
during a congress of the Italian Democratic Socialists
(SDI) in April 2007. In that occasion the party decided not to join the Democratic Party
(PD) and called for a "Socialist Constituent Assembly" (Costituente Socialista) aimed at uniting all Socialists instead.
Some minor parties and associations, including The Italian Socialists of Bobo Craxi, Socialism is Freedom of Rino Formica
and the Association for the Rose in the Fist
of Lanfranco Turci immediately welcomed the proposal by Enrico Boselli. In June 2007 the New Italian Socialist Party (NPSI) split in two groups: the first, led by Stefano Caldoro, opted to stay within the House of Freedoms
; the second, led by Gianni De Michelis
, agreed to join the Constituent Assembly instead. The former retained the NPSI identity, while the latter formed the Socialist Party–De Michelis
. At its foundation in October 2007 the PS was joined also by Democracy and Socialism
, a group of former Democrats of the Left
coming from Democratic Left
.
At the 2008 general election
the PS stood alone and Boselli was its candidate for Prime Minister. In the election, the Socialist Party gained less than 1% of the vote and failed to win any seats in the Italian Parliament.
was elected secretary, replacing Boselli, while Pia Elda Locatelli
was elected president. In September Nencini, proposed a new "reformist axis" comprising the Democratic Party
(PD), the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC) and the Socialists, while explaining that the Democrats needed to choose between the reformism of the PS and the populism of Italy of Values
(IdV).
In October 2008 Angius abandoned the PS and led his group into the PD, proposing that the whole party should follow him. In reply Nencini underlined that no former members of the original PSI were leaving the party. In fact, Spini, the only former Socialist in Angius' group, chose to stay in the PS. However, Gianni De Michelis
left the party soon after.
For the 2009 European Parliament election
the PS formed a joint electoral list named Left and Freedom (SL) with the Movement for the Left
, the Federation of the Greens
, the Democratic Left and Unite the Left
. The list received just 3.1% of the national vote and failed to return any MEPs. Despite this, the national council of the PS chose to continue the experience of SL in order to build a "secular, libertarian and left-wing" political force which will join the PES, leading to the exit of Bobo Craxi, who launched the United Socialists
in October. However, one month later, also the PS suddenly left SL because it refused to be merged into it and loose its identity. The party otherwise chose to support joint candidates with the PD and run its own lists in the forthcoming 2010 regional elections. Subsequently Craxi renewed his party membership.
At the 2010 regional elections
the PSI elected a total of 15 regional councillors. The party had its best results in Apulia
(9.7% with SEL and 4 councillors out of the 11 elected by SEL), Basilicata
(4.6% and 1 councillor), Umbria
(4.2% and 2 councillors), Campania
(3.5% with SEL and 2 councillors out of 2) and Calabria
(3.7%, just 0.3% short of the electoral threshold). A a congress in July Nencini was re-elected secretary, but the party was divided between three political lines: the majority of Nencini supporting a "reformist" alliance with the PD, UDC and SEL (excluding IdV and the Communist Refoundation Party
, PRC), the "autonomist" wing led by Craxi and the "frontist" wing in favour of a stronger co-operation with SEL.
In December 2010 Enrico Boselli
, SDI long-time leader and PS/PSI founder, who had left active politics after his 2008 defeat, joined Alliance for Italy
.
, a senator of The People of Freedom
(PdL) and former secretary of the Italian Democratic Socialist Party
, joined the party, giving it parliamentary representation. While leaving the PdL, Vizzini stated: "It seems to me that the PdL is set to become the Italian section of the European People's Party
. I come from another tradition: I have been secretary of the PSDI
and I was one of the founders of the Party of European Socialists
. When I joined Forza Italia there were Liberals
, Socialists
, Radicals. Now everything has changed."
it won 2.0% in Calabria
(2.8% for the Senate
), 2.8% in Basilicata
, 1.6% in Apulia
and a surprising 1.8% in Umbria
.
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...
political party in Italy.
The party was founded in 2007–2008 by the merger of six minor social-democratic parties and groups: 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...
, 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...
, The Italian Socialists, the Socialist Party–De Michelis
Socialist Party (Italy, 2007–2008)
The Socialist Party was a tiny social-democratic Italian political party. Its leader was Gianni De Michelis.-History:...
, the Association for the Rose in the Fist
Association for the Rose in the Fist
The Association for the Rose in the Fist was a social-democratic association in Italy.It was the so-called "third component" of the Rose in the Fist , composed mainly of the Italian Democratic Socialists and the Italian Radicals...
and Socialism is Freedom. Until 7 October 2009, the party was known as the Socialist Party (Partito Socialista, PS).
Foundation
A merger of all the parties coming from the tradition of the late Italian Socialist PartyItalian 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...
(PSI), disbanded in 1994 as a result of Tangentopoli
Tangentopoli
Tangentopoli is a term which was coined to describe pervasive corruption in the Italian political system exposed in the 1992-6 Mani Pulite investigations, as well as the resulting scandal, which led to the collapse of the hitherto dominant Christian Democracy party and its allies.-Popular distrust...
scandals, was initially proposed by 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....
during a congress 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...
(SDI) in April 2007. In that occasion the party decided not to join 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 called for a "Socialist Constituent Assembly" (Costituente Socialista) aimed at uniting all Socialists instead.
Some minor parties and associations, including The Italian Socialists of Bobo Craxi, Socialism is Freedom of Rino Formica
Rino Formica
Salvatore Formica , best known as Rino Formica, is an Italian former politician.-Biography:Formica was born in Bari....
and the Association for the Rose in the Fist
Association for the Rose in the Fist
The Association for the Rose in the Fist was a social-democratic association in Italy.It was the so-called "third component" of the Rose in the Fist , composed mainly of the Italian Democratic Socialists and the Italian Radicals...
of Lanfranco Turci immediately welcomed the proposal by Enrico Boselli. In June 2007 the New Italian Socialist Party (NPSI) split in two groups: the first, led by Stefano Caldoro, opted to stay within the House of Freedoms
House of Freedoms
The House of Freedoms , was a major Italian centre-right political and electoral alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi. It was initially composed of several political parties:*Forza Italia *National Alliance...
; the second, led by Gianni De Michelis
Gianni De Michelis
Giovanni De Michelis is an Italian politician.-Biography:De Michelis was born in Venice.His political experience started with the Italian Socialist Party, where he was elected to the municipal council of Venice. He got elected for the first time to the Italian Parliament in 1976 and was elected...
, agreed to join the Constituent Assembly instead. The former retained the NPSI identity, while the latter formed the Socialist Party–De Michelis
Socialist Party (Italy, 2007–2008)
The Socialist Party was a tiny social-democratic Italian political party. Its leader was Gianni De Michelis.-History:...
. At its foundation in October 2007 the PS was joined also by 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...
, a group of former 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...
coming from Democratic Left
Democratic Left (Italy)
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 centred around Fabio Mussi and Gavino Angius, who opposed the merger of the DS into the Democratic Party...
.
At the 2008 general election
Italian 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 PS stood alone and Boselli was its candidate for Prime Minister. In the election, the Socialist Party gained less than 1% of the vote and failed to win any seats in the Italian Parliament.
Out of Parliament
At the first party congress, which took place on 4–6 July 2008, Riccardo NenciniRiccardo Nencini
Riccardo Nencini is an Italian politician.Nencini was born at Barberino di Mugello, in the province of Florence. He is the son of Gastone Nencini, a famous cyclist...
was elected secretary, replacing Boselli, while Pia Elda Locatelli
Pia Elda Locatelli
Pia Elda Locatelli is an Italian politician andMember of the European Parliamentfor North-Westwith the Socialisti Democratici Italiani,part of the Socialist Group and sits on...
was elected president. In September Nencini, proposed a new "reformist axis" comprising 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), the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC) and the Socialists, while explaining that the Democrats needed to choose between the reformism of the PS and the populism of 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...
(IdV).
In October 2008 Angius abandoned the PS and led his group into the PD, proposing that the whole party should follow him. In reply Nencini underlined that no former members of the original PSI were leaving the party. In fact, Spini, the only former Socialist in Angius' group, chose to stay in the PS. However, Gianni De Michelis
Gianni De Michelis
Giovanni De Michelis is an Italian politician.-Biography:De Michelis was born in Venice.His political experience started with the Italian Socialist Party, where he was elected to the municipal council of Venice. He got elected for the first time to the Italian Parliament in 1976 and was elected...
left the party soon after.
For the 2009 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
the PS formed a joint electoral list named Left and Freedom (SL) 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:...
, the Democratic Left 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....
. The list received just 3.1% of the national vote and failed to return any MEPs. Despite this, the national council of the PS chose to continue the experience of SL in order to build a "secular, libertarian and left-wing" political force which will join the PES, leading to the exit of Bobo Craxi, who launched the United Socialists
United Socialists (Italy)
The United Socialists is a social-democratic political party in Italy. Its leaders are Bobo Craxi and Saverio Zavettieri....
in October. However, one month later, also the PS suddenly left SL because it refused to be merged into it and loose its identity. The party otherwise chose to support joint candidates with the PD and run its own lists in the forthcoming 2010 regional elections. Subsequently Craxi renewed his party membership.
At the 2010 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 PSI elected a total of 15 regional councillors. The party had its best results in Apulia
Apulian regional election, 2010
The Apulian regional election of 2010 took place on 28–29 March 2010.The outgoing President Nichi Vendola of Left Ecology Freedom was elected for a second-consecutive term, after having won the a primary election in which he beat a Democrat and having benefited from the split of the centre-right,...
(9.7% with SEL and 4 councillors out of the 11 elected by SEL), Basilicata
Basilicata regional election, 2010
The Basilicata regional election of 2010 took place on 28–29 March 2010.The incumbent President Vito De Filippo of the Democratic Party was elected for a second-consecutive term by a landslide, thus becoming the most voted candidate in 2010 regional elections.-Results:Source:...
(4.6% and 1 councillor), Umbria
Umbrian regional election, 2010
The Umbrian regional election of 2010 took place on 28–29 March 2010.The three main candidates were Catiuscia Marini of the Democratic Party, Fiammetta Modena of The People of Freedom and Paola Binetti of the Union of the Centre....
(4.2% and 2 councillors), Campania
Campania regional election, 2010
The Campania regional election of 2010 took place on 28–29 March 2010.The region came out from ten years of undisputed dominance by the centre-left led by Antonio Bassolino . A former Mayor of Naples and minister, he was re-elected by a landslide 61.6% of the vote in 2005...
(3.5% with SEL and 2 councillors out of 2) and Calabria
Calabrian regional election, 2010
The Calabrian regional election of 2010 took place on 28–29 March 2010.Giuseppe Scopelliti of The People of Freedom ousted by a landslide the incumbent President Agazio Loiero of the Democratic Party.-Results:Sources: and...
(3.7%, just 0.3% short of the electoral threshold). A a congress in July Nencini was re-elected secretary, but the party was divided between three political lines: the majority of Nencini supporting a "reformist" alliance with the PD, UDC and SEL (excluding IdV and the Communist Refoundation Party
Communist Refoundation Party
The Communist Refoundation Party is a communist Italian political party. Its current secretary is Paolo Ferrero....
, PRC), the "autonomist" wing led by Craxi and the "frontist" wing in favour of a stronger co-operation with SEL.
In December 2010 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....
, SDI long-time leader and PS/PSI founder, who had left active politics after his 2008 defeat, joined Alliance for Italy
Alliance for Italy
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...
.
Return to the Parliament
In November 2011 Carlo VizziniCarlo Vizzini
-Political life:Vizzini was Secretary of the Italian Democratic Socialist Party from 1992 to 1993, Minister of Mails, and Minister for Cultural Assets and Activities , and was a member of the Italian Senate from Sicily for Forza Italia and latterly The People of Freedom...
, a senator 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) and former secretary of the Italian Democratic Socialist Party
Italian Democratic Socialist Party
The Italian Democratic Socialist Party is a minor social-democratic political party in Italy. Mimmo Magistro is the party leader. The PSDI, before the 1990s decline in votes and members, had been an important force in Italian politics, being the longest serving partner in government for Christian...
, joined the party, giving it parliamentary representation. While leaving the PdL, Vizzini stated: "It seems to me that the PdL is set to become the Italian section of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
. I come from another tradition: I have been secretary of the PSDI
Italian Democratic Socialist Party
The Italian Democratic Socialist Party is a minor social-democratic political party in Italy. Mimmo Magistro is the party leader. The PSDI, before the 1990s decline in votes and members, had been an important force in Italian politics, being the longest serving partner in government for Christian...
and I was one of the founders of 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...
. When I joined Forza Italia there were Liberals
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...
, Socialists
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...
, Radicals. Now everything has changed."
Popular support
Similarly to its precursor parties, the PSI has its strongholds in Southern Italy. 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...
it won 2.0% in 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....
(2.8% for 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...
), 2.8% in 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...
, 1.6% in Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
and a surprising 1.8% 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...
.
Leadership
- Secretary: 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....
(2007–2008), Riccardo NenciniRiccardo NenciniRiccardo Nencini is an Italian politician.Nencini was born at Barberino di Mugello, in the province of Florence. He is the son of Gastone Nencini, a famous cyclist...
(2008–present)- Co-ordinator: Marco Di Lello (2008–present)
- Treasurer: Oreste Pastorelli (2008–present)
- President: Pia Elda LocatelliPia Elda LocatelliPia Elda Locatelli is an Italian politician andMember of the European Parliamentfor North-Westwith the Socialisti Democratici Italiani,part of the Socialist Group and sits on...
(2008–2010)