- Network Italy
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Network Italy (Rete Italia) is a Christian-democratic faction within The People of Freedom (PdL), a political party in Italy. It is composed of followers of Roberto Formigoni,[1][2] a party bigwig who is currently President of Lombardy. Most of its members, as Formigoni himself, are members of Communion and Liberation.
The group, which was active since 1975 as a faction within Christian Democracy under the name of Popular Movement, joined Rocco Buttiglione's United Christian Democrats (CDU). In 1998, when Buttiglione temorarily aligned his party with the centre-left in support of D'Alema I Cabinet (through the Democratic Union of the Republic), Formigoni formed the Christian Democrats for Freedom (Cristiani Democratici per la Libertà). When Buttiglione re-established CDU and re-positioned it in the centre-right, joining the House of Freedoms coalition in 2000, Formigoni, his followers (known as Formigoniani) and many regional deputies from Northern regions had already joined Forza Italia.
In 2006 Network Italy was organized as a faction within Forza Italia. Leading members of the faction, which has its power base in Lombardy, include Maurizio Lupi, Mario Mantovani, Mario Mauro, Giancarlo Abelli, Adriano Paroli, Maurizio Bernardo, Guido Crosetto, Mario Malossini, Raffaello Vignali, Aldo Brandirali and Mario Sala.
In 2009 the faction, along with Forza Italia, joined the brand new PdL party. In November 2010, during a convention in Milan, Formigoni formed an alliance with other two party bigwigs, Raffaele Fitto and Angelino Alfano.[3] The aim of the initiative was to reinforce the Catholic image of the party and, according to some, to be prepared when Silvio Berlusconi leaves politics. The ties with Franco Frattini's Liberamente and Gianni Alemanno's New Italy were reinforced too.[4][5]
Leadership
- Christian Democrats for Freedom
- President: Roberto Formigoni (1998–1999)
- Network Italy
- Coordinator: Maurizio Lupi / Mario Mauro / Mario Sala (2006–present)
References
- ^ http://www.lareteitalia.it/content/cosa-%C3%A8-rete-italia
- ^ http://www.corriere.it/politica/08_gennaio_27/berlusconi_voto_o_italiani_a_roma_19de37e8-ccc9-11dc-bed8-0003ba99c667.shtml
- ^ http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/novembre/28/Guardasigilli_con_Formigoni_ora_costruiamo_co_8_101128007.shtml
- ^ http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/novembre/29/Operazione_mondo_cattolico_Formigoni_serve_co_8_101129013.shtml
- ^ http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2011/settembre/25/Primarie_nel_Pdl_strappo_Formigoni_co_9_110925010.shtml
External links
Categories:- Political party factions in Italy
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