Federalists and Liberal Democrats
Encyclopedia
The Federalists and Liberal Democrats (Federalisti e Liberaldemocratici, FLD) was a federalist
and liberal
Italian political party.
by twelve dissident members of Lega Nord, four members of Forza Italia
, two members of the Liberal Democratic Foundation
, Raffaele Costa
(leader of the Union of the Centre and Minister of Health
) and Pietro Cerullo (representative of the Southern Action League
). Indeed twenty members were needed to form a group in the Chamber. The group acted as a close ally of Silvio Berlusconi
's Forza Italia.
Following the decision of Umberto Bossi
, leader of Lega Nord, to bring down Berlusconi I Cabinet
on 22 December, many Leghisti who wanted to continue that alliance joined the party. These included Franco Rocchetta
(founder and long-standing leader of Liga Veneta
), Marilena Marin
(secretary of Liga Veneta from 1984 to 1994), Lucio Malan
, Furio Gubetti and Gualberto Niccolini (President of Lega Nord Toscana from 1988). At the point of its maximum strength, after the merger of the Federalist Italian League
(LIF) on 20 December, another splinter group of Lega Nord, FLD had more than 50 MPs.
In the 1996 general election
, when Lega Nord, despite the several splits had its best result ever (10.1% nationally), none of the ex-Leghisti of FLD, but Luigi Negri, who came from LIF, was re-elected and the party was merged into Forza Italia. Anyway, in the 2001 general election
, both Lucio Malan and Furio Gubetti were elected to the Senate
and since then Malan is one of the leaders of Forza Italia
in Piedmont
.
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
and liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
Italian political party.
History
The party was founded on 16 December 1994 as a parliamentary group in the Chamber of DeputiesItalian 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...
by twelve dissident members of Lega Nord, four members of Forza Italia
Forza Italia
Forza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy....
, two members of the Liberal Democratic Foundation
Liberal Democratic Foundation
The Liberal Democratic Foundation was a Christian-democratic and liberal Italian political party.It was founded on 28 April 1994 by splinters from Patto Segni led by Giulio Tremonti and Alberto Michelini...
, Raffaele Costa
Raffaele Costa
Raffaele Costa is an Italian politician. He has been President of the Province of Cuneo...
(leader of the Union of the Centre and Minister of Health
Italian Minister of Health
This is a list of Italian Ministers of Health...
) and Pietro Cerullo (representative of the Southern Action League
Southern Action League
The Southern Action League is a regionalist national-conservative Italian political party active in Apulia and especially in the Province of Taranto....
). Indeed twenty members were needed to form a group in the Chamber. The group acted as a close ally 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...
's Forza Italia.
Following the decision of Umberto Bossi
Umberto Bossi
Umberto Bossi is an Italian politician, leader of the Northern League, a party seeking autonomy or independence for Northern Italy. He is married to Manuela Marrone and has four sons ....
, leader of Lega Nord, to bring down Berlusconi I Cabinet
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:...
on 22 December, many Leghisti who wanted to continue that alliance joined the party. These included Franco Rocchetta
Franco Rocchetta
Franco Rocchetta is a Venetist politician.Rocchetta was born in Venice. He was a founding member of Liga Veneta in 1978–1980, and its national president and practical leader...
(founder and long-standing leader of Liga Veneta
Liga Veneta
Liga Veneta is a regionalist political party based in Veneto, combining Venetism and fiscal federalism. Liga Veneta is by far the largest party in Veneto and the party of Luca Zaia, President of Veneto since March 2010.It was the first party of its kind in Northern Italy, predating Umberto...
), Marilena Marin
Marilena Marin
Marilena Marin is an Italian Venetist politician.A native of Conegliano, she was a founding member of Liga Veneta in 1978–1980 and, after a party purge in 1984, she was elected national secretary of the party replacing Achille Tramarin...
(secretary of Liga Veneta from 1984 to 1994), Lucio Malan
Lucio Malan
Lucio Malan is an Italian politician.Malan was born in Luserna San Giovanni, Turin. He earned his BA in Literature at the University of Turin, then he obtained a master's degree in history at University of Nevada Las Vegas, where Lucio Malan was also tutor-assistant.Lucio Malan is member of the...
, Furio Gubetti and Gualberto Niccolini (President of Lega Nord Toscana from 1988). At the point of its maximum strength, after the merger of the Federalist Italian League
Federalist Italian League
The Federalist Italian League was a short-lived federalist and liberal Italian political party.-History:The party was founded by dissident members of Lega Nord on 13 February 1995, including Luigi Negri , Enrico Hüllwech and Giorgio Vido...
(LIF) on 20 December, another splinter group of Lega Nord, FLD had more than 50 MPs.
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...
, when Lega Nord, despite the several splits had its best result ever (10.1% nationally), none of the ex-Leghisti of FLD, but Luigi Negri, who came from LIF, was re-elected and the party was merged into Forza Italia. Anyway, in the 2001 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....
, both Lucio Malan and Furio Gubetti were elected to 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...
and since then Malan is one of the leaders of Forza Italia
Forza Italia
Forza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy....
in 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...
.