Democratic Union for Consumers
Encyclopedia
Democratic Union for Consumers (Unione Democratica per i Consumatori, UDpC) is a centrist
Italian political party.
, which was integrated in the new party. Bordon and Manzione were both members of the most Ulivista faction in DL, that one led by Arturo Parisi
and decided to leave DL because they opposed how the foundation of the Democratic Party
(PD) was taking place. In their opinion, PD was born as a bureaucratic union of apparatuses between DL and the Democrats of the Left
and they were the "true Democrats".
Bordon has been a strong supporter of the idea of a "Democratic Party" since 1992, when he left the Democratic Party of the Left
to form Democratic Alliance
, forerunner of the first Democratic Union, The Democrats
and Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy, respectively. All four parties were committed in uniting the whole centre-left in a single party and Bordon was a keen supporter of this.
On 27 November UD formed a joint group in the Senate
with Liberal Democrats
of Lamberto Dini. The convergence between the two small parties, which retained their autonomy, is based on some key points (a plurality voting system
, more powers for the prime minister, fiscal conservatism
, tax cuts and social security
reform) and was open to all the senators.
Both Bordon and Manzione, as also Dini and D'Amico, have a long record of dissenting votes from the majority. The group was predicted as likely to have much influence in the Senate, where the centre-left had only a narrow majority of two votes and where Liberal Democrats were the fourth force of the coalition, after the Democratic Party, the Communist Refoundation Party
and Democratic Left
. For technical reasons, the two parties formed separate groups in the Senate in order to have more speaking time, whilst coordinating almost every position together and formed a joint group until the Liberal Democrats decided to withdraw support from Romano Prodi
's government and to join The People of Freedom
.
In the 2008 general election
, Democratic Union for Consumers failed to gain enough votes to enter Parliament.
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...
Italian political party.
History
UD was founded on 11 September 2007 by two dissenting members of Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL), Willer Bordon (leader of the new party) and Roberto Manzione, and two leading consumer rights leaders, Elio Lanutti and Bruno De Vita, leader of United ConsumersUnited Consumers
The United Consumers is a political party in Italy led by Bruno De Vita.Since the 2006 general election the party was affiliated to The Union, the centre-left coalition led by Romano Prodi, and in that occasion it took part to a joint list with the Federation of the Greens and the Party of Italian...
, which was integrated in the new party. Bordon and Manzione were both members of the most Ulivista faction in DL, that one led by Arturo Parisi
Arturo Parisi
Arturo Parisi is an Italian politician, leader of the Ulivist faction of the Democratic Party and four-time member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies...
and decided to leave DL because they opposed how the foundation of 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) was taking place. In their opinion, PD was born as a bureaucratic union of apparatuses between DL and the 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...
and they were the "true Democrats".
Bordon has been a strong supporter of the idea of a "Democratic Party" since 1992, when he left the Democratic Party of the Left
Democratic Party of the Left
The Democratic Party of the Left was a post-communist, democratic socialist political party in Italy.-History:...
to form Democratic Alliance
Democratic Alliance (Italy)
The Democratic Alliance was an Italian political party founded in 1993, with the intent of becoming the container of an alliance of centre-left forces. However, the project did not succeed, and it presented itself as a minor party, mainly composed of former Republicans and former Communists...
, forerunner of the first Democratic Union, The Democrats
The Democrats
The Democrats may refer to:*Democratic Party *The Democrats *The Democrats *The Democrats...
and Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy, respectively. All four parties were committed in uniting the whole centre-left in a single party and Bordon was a keen supporter of this.
On 27 November UD formed a joint group in 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...
with Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats (Italy)
The Liberal Democrats are a liberal-centrist political party in Italy.Its long-time leader was Senator Lamberto Dini, former Minister of the Treasury, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.-History:...
of Lamberto Dini. The convergence between the two small parties, which retained their autonomy, is based on some key points (a 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...
, more powers for the prime minister, fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
, tax cuts and social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
reform) and was open to all the senators.
Both Bordon and Manzione, as also Dini and D'Amico, have a long record of dissenting votes from the majority. The group was predicted as likely to have much influence in the Senate, where the centre-left had only a narrow majority of two votes and where Liberal Democrats were the fourth force of the coalition, after the Democratic Party, the Communist Refoundation Party
Communist Refoundation Party
The Communist Refoundation Party is a communist Italian political party. Its current secretary is Paolo Ferrero....
and 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...
. For technical reasons, the two parties formed separate groups in the Senate in order to have more speaking time, whilst coordinating almost every position together and formed a joint group until the Liberal Democrats decided to withdraw support from Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi is an Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy, from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008...
's government and to join 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....
.
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...
, Democratic Union for Consumers failed to gain enough votes to enter Parliament.
Leadership
- President: Willer Bordon (2007–present)
- Coordinator: Roberto Manzione (2007–present)