Liberal Democrats (Italy)
Encyclopedia
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
.
. The new party was a sort of continuation of the late Italian Renewal
party. The party was joined by three senators (Natale D'Amico, Giuseppe Scalera and Dini himself), a deputy (Italo Tanoni), a under-secretary (Daniela Melchiorre) and two regional deputies (Rosario Monteleone in Liguria
and Antonio Verini in Abruzzo
). Dini was elected party president, Tanoni coordinator and Scalera leader in the Senate, where Liberal Democrats were able to form a component in the Mixed Group.
Dini, who was minister of the Treasury in the Berlusconi I Cabinet
, announced that the party remained a "critical member" of The Union
and that it will "support the Democratic Party from the outside". The party also continued to support Prodi II Cabinet
, but distanced itself from the government on some issues, notably foreign policy and social security reform. One of the goals of Liberal Democrats was that of challenging the "statist illusion which survives in DS
and DL" and what they describe the hegemony of the far left over the centre-left and the government itself. Dini's move was heavily criticized by some far left exponents of the coalition, who accused him of helping Berlusconi's return in office.
On 24 January 2008 the Liberal Democrats voted against Prodi's government in a vote of confidence, along with UDEUR Populars, Domenico Fisichella and the parties of the House of Freedoms, causing its fall. Willer Bordon's Democratic Union voted in favour, as also Natale D'Amico did, dissenting from his leader Lamberto Dini.
On 8 February 2008 the party joined the The People of Freedom
(PdL) led by Berlusconi. This led to the exit from the party of D'Amico who joined the Democratic Party and Rosario Monteleone who joined the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats. In the following general election
, four Liberal Democrats were elected in the lists of PdL: Dini to the Senate, Tanoni, Scalera and Melchiorre to the Chamber of Deputies.
On 30 May 2008 Dini, who was re-elected President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate, along with Scalera, decided to leave his party and to join directly to PdL, while Tanoni, Melchiorre and others decided to hold on and to organize the Liberal Democrats as an independent centrist party allied to PdL. Melchiorre was elected president of the party some days later.
On 21 2008 July the two remaining deputies of the party, Melchiorre and Tanoni, formed a joint-group within the Mixed Group in the Chamber along with Francesco Nucara of the Italian Republican Party
. Some months later the Liberal Democrats started to be very critical of Berlusconi IV Cabinet
and joined the opposition in several key votes.
In January 2010 the party signed an electoral pact with the Union of the Centre (UdC). On 15 December 2010 ApI was a founding member of the centrist New Pole for Italy
along with the UdC, Future and Freedom
, Alliance for Italy
and the Movement for Autonomies. In a few months the party returned to support Berlusconi and Melchiorre was appointed under-secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development. However, less than a month after her appointment, Melchiorre left the government.
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,...
-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.
Its long-time leader was Senator Lamberto Dini, former Minister of the Treasury, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs
As in most countries, in Italy the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which is the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is one of the most important ministerial positions...
.
History
The party was founded on 18 September 2007 as a split of the right-wing of Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL). Liberal Democrats broke because of their opposition over the formation of the Democratic PartyDemocratic 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....
. The new party was a sort of continuation of the late Italian Renewal
Italian Renewal
The Italian Renewal was a liberal-centrist political party in Italy.It was founded in 1996 by Lamberto Dini along with some former Liberals, Socialists, Christian Democrats, Republicans and Social Democrats...
party. The party was joined by three senators (Natale D'Amico, Giuseppe Scalera and Dini himself), a deputy (Italo Tanoni), a under-secretary (Daniela Melchiorre) and two regional deputies (Rosario Monteleone in Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
and Antonio Verini in Abruzzo
Abruzzo
Abruzzo is a region in Italy, its western border lying less than due east of Rome. Abruzzo borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east...
). Dini was elected party president, Tanoni coordinator and Scalera leader in the Senate, where Liberal Democrats were able to form a component in the Mixed Group.
Dini, who was minister of the Treasury in the 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:...
, announced that the party remained a "critical member" of The Union
The Union (political coalition)
The Union was an centre-left coalition of political parties in Italy. It was led by Romano Prodi, Prime Minister of Italy from April 2006 to April 2008, and former President of the European Commission.-Parties:...
and that it will "support the Democratic Party from the outside". The party also continued to support 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...
, but distanced itself from the government on some issues, notably foreign policy and social security reform. One of the goals of Liberal Democrats was that of challenging the "statist illusion which survives in DS
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 DL" and what they describe the hegemony of the far left over the centre-left and the government itself. Dini's move was heavily criticized by some far left exponents of the coalition, who accused him of helping Berlusconi's return in office.
On 24 January 2008 the Liberal Democrats voted against Prodi's government in a vote of confidence, along with UDEUR Populars, Domenico Fisichella and the parties of the House of Freedoms, causing its fall. Willer Bordon's Democratic Union voted in favour, as also Natale D'Amico did, dissenting from his leader Lamberto Dini.
On 8 February 2008 the party joined the 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) led by Berlusconi. This led to the exit from the party of D'Amico who joined the Democratic Party and Rosario Monteleone who joined the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats. In the following 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...
, four Liberal Democrats were elected in the lists of PdL: Dini to the Senate, Tanoni, Scalera and Melchiorre to the Chamber of Deputies.
On 30 May 2008 Dini, who was re-elected President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate, along with Scalera, decided to leave his party and to join directly to PdL, while Tanoni, Melchiorre and others decided to hold on and to organize the Liberal Democrats as an independent centrist party allied to PdL. Melchiorre was elected president of the party some days later.
On 21 2008 July the two remaining deputies of the party, Melchiorre and Tanoni, formed a joint-group within the Mixed Group in the Chamber along with Francesco Nucara of the Italian Republican Party
Italian Republican Party
The Italian Republican Party is a liberal political party in Italy.The PRI is party with old roots that originally took a left-wing position, claiming descent from the political position of Giuseppe Mazzini...
. Some months later the Liberal Democrats started to be very critical of 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 joined the opposition in several key votes.
In January 2010 the party signed an electoral pact with the Union of the Centre (UdC). On 15 December 2010 ApI was a founding member of the centrist New Pole for Italy
New Pole for Italy
The New Pole for Italy , referred also either as the Third Pole or Pole of the Nation , is a centre-right coalition of parties in Italy....
along with the UdC, Future and Freedom
Future and Freedom
Future and Freedom , whose complete name is Future and Freedom for Italy is a centre-right political party in Italy....
, 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...
and the Movement for Autonomies. In a few months the party returned to support Berlusconi and Melchiorre was appointed under-secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development. However, less than a month after her appointment, Melchiorre left the government.
Leadership
- President: Lamberto Dini (2007–2008), Daniela Melchiorre (2008–present)
- Coordinator: Italo Tanoni (2007–present)