Social Christians

Social Christians (Cristiano Sociali, CS) is a Christian social-democratic faction within the Democratic Party, a political party in Italy.

The group was founded as a party by trade-union leader Pierre Carniti and economist Ermanno Gorrieri and, since their foundation in 1993 in order to represent progressive Catholics and left-wing Christian Democrats in the Alliance of Progressives. In 1998 Social Christians contributed to the foundation of the Democrats of the Left and were later a faction within that party.^[1] In 2007 they were keen supporters of the foundation of the Democratic Party and most of its members were very close to the first party leader Walter Veltroni.

In the 2009 Democratic Party leadership election the faction chose to support Pier Luigi Bersani^[2], while two former leading Social Christians, Giorgio Tonini and Stefano Ceccanti, who had been close aides to Walter Veltroni, supported Dario Franceschini.^[3]

The group currently counts 5,500 members, one deputy (Fabio Porta), three senators (Mimmo Lucà, Donata Lenzi and Paolo Corsini)^[4], four regional and more than 200 provincial and municipal councillors.^[1] Social Christians are a member of the International League of Religious Socialists.

Leadership

Coordinator: Pierre Carniti (1993–1999), Giorgio Tonini (1999–2003), Mimmo Lucà (2003–present)
President: Ermanno Gorrieri (1993–1999), Pierre Carniti (1999–2003)

References

External links

Official website

Italian political party factions

The People of Freedom	Christian democrats (Network Italy, Christopher Columbus, Pisaniani, Christian Democracy, Liberal Populars, Christian Reformists, Christian Populars) – liberal centrists (Liberamente, Tremontiani, Magna Carta, Dellutriani) – liberals (Countercurrent, Free Foundation, Popular Liberalism) – social democrats (Reformism and Freedom, We Reformers, New Italian Socialist Party, European Reformists) – liberal conservatives (Protagonist Italy, Foundation of Freedom, Open Space) – national conservatives (New Italy, Movement for Italy, Libertarian Right) – grassroots (Promoters of Freedom, Circles of Freedom, Clubs of Freedom, Circles of Good Government)

Democratic Party	Majority (Bersaniani, Dalemiani–Reformists and Democrats, Lettiani–360 Association, To the Left, Democrats Really, Democracy and Socialism, Social Christians) – Democratic Movement (Veltroniani, The Populars–Fourth Phase, Liberal PD, Democratic Ecologists, Theo-Dems) – Democratic Area (The Populars–Franceschiniani, Fassiniani, Serracchiani-Civati) – non-aligned (Big Bang, Change Italy, Ulivists, Together in the PD) – associate parties (Italian Radicals, Moderates for Piedmont)

Lega Nord	Bossiani–Magic circle – Maroniani – Calderoliani – Venetians – issue oriented groups (see Factions of Lega Nord)

Union of the Centre	Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (Casiniani – Tabaccini – Liberals and Christians) – Daisy Populars – White Rose – former PD and PdL members – minor parties

Future and Freedom	Generation Italy – National Area – Libertiamo

Communist Refoundation Party	Refoundation in Movement – Being Communists – The Ernesto – HammerSickle – Counter-current – To the Left with Refoundation recent splits (Communist Alternative Party – Communist Project/Communist Workers' Party – Critical Left – Refoundation for the Left/Movement for the Left)