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White Rose (Italy)
Encyclopedia
The White Rose whose official name is Popular Civic Federative Movement (Movimento Federativo Civico Popolare), is a Christian-democratic
and centrist
political party in Italy.
and Mario Baccini
announced that they were quitting UDC in order to form a new centrist party. On 8 February the White Rose was officially launched.
Both Tabacci and Baccini are long-time critics of Silvio Berlusconi
within the House of Freedoms
, the coalition of which UDC was a member, and of the current political system itself, opposing any form of two-party system
, presidentialism
and plurality voting system
, in favour of a system modelled on the German model.
The new outfit emerged in the aftermath of the fall of Prodi II Cabinet
. Tabacci and Baccini wanted to support the formation of a government led by Franco Marini
with the goal of a new electoral law on the German model. UDC leader Pier Ferdinando Casini
decided instead to follow Silvio Berlusconi
and the other leaders of the centre-right
House of Freedoms
coalition in their request of a fresh election as soon as possible, despite having supported an electoral law reform (based upon the German model) during the previous two years.
Many leading figures entered the new party, notably Savino Pezzotta
, former leader of the Italian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions
who was appointed President of the party, Gerardo Bianco and Alberto Monticone and their Popular Italy
, former Minister Gian Guido Folloni, former Mayor of Parma
Elvio Ubaldi, MEPs
Gianni Rivera
and Beniamino Donnici. Tabacci and Baccini tried to recruit Antonio Di Pietro
and his Italy of Values
, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Mario Monti
, without being successful. There are rumors that Ciriaco De Mita
, former leader of Christian Democracy
, may soon join the party.
On 28 February the party decided that it will present joint-lists with UDC for the general election and it was hinted that Casini would be the joint-candidate for Prime Minister. The two parties, united in the Union of the Centre, will finally merge in a single entity. On 11 March both Bianco and Monticone left the party and re-established Popular Italy. At the same time also Rivera and Donnici left the party.
In the 2008 general election
the party won 5.6% together with UDC and got three deputies elected: Mario Baccini, Bruno Tabacci and Savino Pezzotta.
Soon after the election, on 5 May, Baccini surprisingly refused to join the group of the Union of Centre in the Chamber of Deputies. Baccini had also decided to support Gianni Alemanno of National Alliance
in the second round of the race for Mayor of Rome
and Gianfranco Fini
as President of the Chamber of Deputies. On 14 May Baccini announced his vote of confidence to Berlusconi IV Cabinet
and his resignation from Secretary of the party. On the same day Baccini was promptly replaced by Tabacci. After the exit of Baccini, the party is almost disbanded and acts as a faction within UDC.
Christian Democracy
Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching...
and 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.
History
On 30 January 2008, Bruno TabacciBruno Tabacci
Bruno Tabacci is an Italian politician, member of the Chamber of Deputies and Secretary of the White Rose party. In November 2009 he was one of the founding members of the new Alliance for Italy party.-Career:...
and 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...
announced that they were quitting UDC in order to form a new centrist party. On 8 February the White Rose was officially launched.
Both Tabacci and Baccini are long-time critics of 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...
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 coalition of which UDC was a member, and of the current political system itself, opposing any form of two-party system
Two-party system
A two-party system is a system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government and, as a result, all or nearly all elected offices are members of one of the two major parties...
, presidentialism
Presidential system
A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss it....
and plurality voting system
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
, in favour of a system modelled on the German model.
The new outfit emerged in the aftermath of the fall of Prodi II Cabinet
Prodi II Cabinet
The Prodi II Cabinet was the cabinet of the government of Italy from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008, a total of 722 days, or 1 year, 11 months and 21 days...
. Tabacci and Baccini wanted to support the formation of a government led by Franco Marini
Franco Marini
Franco Marini is an Italian politician and a prominent member of the centre-left Democratic Party. From 2006 to 2008 he was President of the Italian Senate.-Biography:...
with the goal of a new electoral law on the German model. UDC leader Pier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini is an Italian politician.-Biography:President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2006...
decided instead to follow 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...
and the other leaders of the 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...
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...
coalition in their request of a fresh election as soon as possible, despite having supported an electoral law reform (based upon the German model) during the previous two years.
Many leading figures entered the new party, notably Savino Pezzotta
Savino Pezzotta
Savino Pezzotta is an Italian trade unionist and politician, and the president of the White Rose party.-Trade unionist:Pezzotta was a textile worker since 1959...
, former leader of the Italian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions
Italian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions
The Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori is an Italian trade union association representing various Roman Catholic-inspired groups linked with Christian Democracy....
who was appointed President of the party, Gerardo Bianco and Alberto Monticone and their Popular Italy
Popular Italy
Popular Italy , whose complete name is Popular Italy – Movement for Europe was a tiny christian-democratic faction within the Italian Democratic Party and, later, a tiny political party in Italy.Its leading members were Lino Duilio, Gerardo Bianco and Alberto Monticone, all three MPs elected for...
, former Minister Gian Guido Folloni, former Mayor of Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
Elvio Ubaldi, MEPs
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
Gianni Rivera
Gianni Rivera
Giovanni Rivera is an Italian former football midfielder, mostly as an offensive playmaker, who was awarded the Ballon d'Or, one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, in 1969. He played the majority of his career with Serie A side A.C. Milan...
and Beniamino Donnici. Tabacci and Baccini tried to recruit Antonio Di Pietro
Antonio Di Pietro
Antonio Di Pietro is an Italian politician. He was a Member of the European Parliament, an Italian Senator, and Minister of the Prodi Government...
and his 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...
, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Mario Monti
Mario Monti
Mario Monti is an Italian economist and academic who is Prime Minister of Italy, as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, since November 2011. Monti served as a European Commissioner from 1995 to 2004, with responsibility for the Internal Market, Services, Customs and Taxation from 1995 to 1999...
, without being successful. There are rumors that Ciriaco De Mita
Ciriaco de Mita
Ciriaco Luigi de Mita is an Italian politician. He served as the 47th Prime Minister of Italy from 1988 to 1989 and is currently Member of the European Parliament.-Biography:De Mita was born in Nusco, in the Avellinese hinterland....
, former leader of Christian Democracy
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 ....
, may soon join the party.
On 28 February the party decided that it will present joint-lists with UDC for the general election and it was hinted that Casini would be the joint-candidate for Prime Minister. The two parties, united in the Union of the Centre, will finally merge in a single entity. On 11 March both Bianco and Monticone left the party and re-established Popular Italy. At the same time also Rivera and Donnici left the party.
In 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 party won 5.6% together with UDC and got three deputies elected: Mario Baccini, Bruno Tabacci and Savino Pezzotta.
Soon after the election, on 5 May, Baccini surprisingly refused to join the group of the Union of Centre in the Chamber of Deputies. Baccini had also decided to support Gianni Alemanno of National Alliance
National Alliance (Italy)
National Alliance was a conservative political party in Italy.Gianfranco Fini was the leader of the party since its foundation in 1995, however he stepped down in 2008 after being elected to the nominally non-partisan post of President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and was succeeded by...
in the second round of the race for Mayor of Rome
Rome
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...
and Gianfranco Fini
Gianfranco Fini
Gianfranco Fini is an Italian politician, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, leader of the center-right Future and Freedom party, and the former leader of the conservative National Alliance and the post-fascist Italian Social Movement...
as President of the Chamber of Deputies. On 14 May Baccini announced his vote of confidence to Berlusconi IV Cabinet
Berlusconi IV Cabinet
Berlusconi IV Cabinet has been the cabinet of the government of Italy from 8 May 2008 to 16 November 2011.As of July 2011, it was composed of 24 ministers, 4 deputy ministers and 39 under-secretaries, for a total of 67 members.-Sources:*...
and his resignation from Secretary of the party. On the same day Baccini was promptly replaced by Tabacci. After the exit of Baccini, the party is almost disbanded and acts as a faction within UDC.
Leadership
- Secretary: Mario BacciniMario BacciniMario 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...
(2008), Bruno TabacciBruno TabacciBruno Tabacci is an Italian politician, member of the Chamber of Deputies and Secretary of the White Rose party. In November 2009 he was one of the founding members of the new Alliance for Italy party.-Career:...
(2008–present)- Deputy-Secretary: Elvio Ubaldi (2008–present)
- President: Savino PezzottaSavino PezzottaSavino Pezzotta is an Italian trade unionist and politician, and the president of the White Rose party.-Trade unionist:Pezzotta was a textile worker since 1959...
(2008–present)- Vice President: Gerardo Bianco (2008), Alberto Monticone (2008)