The Net (Italy)
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The Net – Movement for Democracy (La Rete – Movimento per la Democrazia) was an Italian political party led by Leoluca Orlando.
Formed by Orlando on 24 January 1991 whilst mayor of Palermo the group sought to reinvigorate the moral traditions of Italian democracy and also took a strong anti-Mafia stance. Initially attached to Christian Democracy, it quickly broke with this part due to its relations to the Mafia. The party succeeded in gaining elected office in Sicily, including holding on to the mayorship of Palermo in 1993. It participated in the Alliance for Progress (which included the Democratic Alliance, the Federation of the Greens, the Communist Refoundation Party, the Democratic Party of the Left, the Italian Socialist Party and the Social Christians) that unsuccessfully contested the 1994 general election against the House of Freedoms coaliton of Silvio Berlusconi.
The party changed its name to The Net for the Democratic Party (La Rete per il Partito Democratico) in 1996 before being absorbed by The Democrats of Romano Prodi in 1999. Well-known former members of La Rete include Claudio Fava.
