We the South
Encyclopedia
We the South in full We the South – Freedom and Autonomy (Noi Sud – Libertà e Autonomia), is a regionalist
-centrist
political party in Italy based in the South.
-based regionalist party active all around Southern Italy, had been in coalition, both at national and regional level, with The People of Freedom
(PdL), the centre-right party led by Silvio Berlusconi
since 2006, but had became critical of him.
In December 2009 Raffaele Lombardo
, leader of MpA and President of Sicily, formed his third cabinet that included ministers from his MpA party, the PdL–Sicily and the newly formed regional section of Alliance for Italy
, plus some independents, including one who was close to the opposition Democratic Party
(PD). No members of the "official" PdL were included.
The break-up of the alliance with the official PdL in Sicily and all around the South led to a painful split. In January 2010 Vincenzo Scotti
and four deputies out of eight (Arturo Iannaccone, Elio Belcastro, Antonio Milo and Luciano Sardelli), who wanted to continue the alliance with the PdL, were expelled from the party and formed their own movement. In the 2010 regional elections
the party gained 3.6% of the vote in Campania
and 3.1% in Calabria
.
In October 2010, in the Italian Chamber of Deputies
, NS formed a joint group with The Populars of Italy Tomorrow (PID) led by Luciano Sardelli (NS). In that occasion Americo Porfidia, a former member of Italy of Values
(IdV), joined NS. Another deputy coming from IdV, Antonio Razzi, joined NS in December. On 20 January 2011 NS was a founding component of Responsible Initiative/People and Land (IR/PT), a centre-right
group in the Chamber, but one deputy, Antonio Gaglione, refused to join it.
The party was soon divided in two wings, one led by Iannaccone and another one led by Scotti. In May 2011 Scotti tried to sack Iannaccone as secretary of the party and was sacked as president by Iannaccone instead. In July Iannaccone led NS to jointly launch with Force of the South
and I the South the Federation of the South, later Great South
.
In November 2011 Iannaccone, Belcastro and Porfidia left PT to join forces with Force of the South in the Mixed Group, while still being loyal to Berlusconi. The other group, led by Scotti and composed of Milo and Sardelli, who also had left PT and NS itself, were very critical to Berlusconi instead. Scotti even left the government some days before Berlusconi decided to resign.
Since the new sub-group within the Mixed Group was formed, the party practically had just three deputies: Iannaccone, Belcastro and Porfidia.
Regionalism (politics)
Regionalism is a term used in international relations. Regionalism also constitutes one of the three constituents of the international commercial system...
-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...
political party in Italy based in the South.
History
The party emerged in January 2010 as a split from the Movement for Autonomies (MpA). MpA, a SicilianSicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
-based regionalist party active all around Southern Italy, had been in coalition, both at national and regional level, with 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), the centre-right party led by 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...
since 2006, but had became critical of him.
In December 2009 Raffaele Lombardo
Raffaele Lombardo
Raffaele Lombardo is an Italian politician, President of Sicily and former Member of the European Parliament for Islands with the Movement for Autonomies and has sat on the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.He is a substitute for the Committee on the...
, leader of MpA and President of Sicily, formed his third cabinet that included ministers from his MpA party, the PdL–Sicily and the newly formed regional section of 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...
, plus some independents, including one who was close to the opposition 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). No members of the "official" PdL were included.
The break-up of the alliance with the official PdL in Sicily and all around the South led to a painful split. In January 2010 Vincenzo Scotti
Vincenzo Scotti
Vincenzo Scotti is an Italian politician and member of Christian Democracy . He was Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs.-Biography:...
and four deputies out of eight (Arturo Iannaccone, Elio Belcastro, Antonio Milo and Luciano Sardelli), who wanted to continue the alliance with the PdL, were expelled from the party and formed their own movement. In 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 party gained 3.6% of the vote in Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
and 3.1% 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....
.
In October 2010, in the Italian Chamber of Deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The 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...
, NS formed a joint group with The Populars of Italy Tomorrow (PID) led by Luciano Sardelli (NS). In that occasion Americo Porfidia, a former member 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), joined NS. Another deputy coming from IdV, Antonio Razzi, joined NS in December. On 20 January 2011 NS was a founding component of Responsible Initiative/People and Land (IR/PT), a centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
group in the Chamber, but one deputy, Antonio Gaglione, refused to join it.
The party was soon divided in two wings, one led by Iannaccone and another one led by Scotti. In May 2011 Scotti tried to sack Iannaccone as secretary of the party and was sacked as president by Iannaccone instead. In July Iannaccone led NS to jointly launch with Force of the South
Force of the South
Force of the South is a liberal-conservative political party in Italy based in Sicily.In September 2010, after years of weighting , Gianfranco Micciché, long-time leader of Forza Italia and, later, The People of Freedom in Sicily and Under-Secretary in Berlusconi IV Cabinet, announced his exit...
and I the South the Federation of the South, later Great South
Great South (party)
Great South is a regionalist centre-right coalition of parties in Italy.Launched on 14 July 2011, it is composed of:*Force of the South...
.
In November 2011 Iannaccone, Belcastro and Porfidia left PT to join forces with Force of the South in the Mixed Group, while still being loyal to Berlusconi. The other group, led by Scotti and composed of Milo and Sardelli, who also had left PT and NS itself, were very critical to Berlusconi instead. Scotti even left the government some days before Berlusconi decided to resign.
Since the new sub-group within the Mixed Group was formed, the party practically had just three deputies: Iannaccone, Belcastro and Porfidia.
Leadership
- Secretary: Arturo Iannaccone (2010–present)
- Deputy Secretary: Elio Belcastro (2010–present)
- Treasurer: Antonio Milo (2010–2011)
- President: Vincenzo ScottiVincenzo ScottiVincenzo Scotti is an Italian politician and member of Christian Democracy . He was Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs.-Biography:...
(2010–2011), Americo Porfidia (2011–present)
- 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...
: Luciano Sardelli (2010–2011), Arturo Iannaccone (2011–present)