The Socialist Party (Partito Socialista, PS) was a tiny social-democratic party in Italy.
It was founded in 1996 by former members of the Italian Socialist Party close to Bettino Craxi, as Gianni De Michelis, Ugo Intini, Fabrizio Cicchitto, Margherita Boniver, Bobo Craxi and Donato Robilotta, some of which had been members of the Reform Socialist Party from 1994. The party scored 0.4% in the 1996 general election.
In 1997 Ugo Intini was replaced as secretary by Gianni De Michelis.
In 1998 some members led by Ugo Intini joined the Italian Socialists and other Socialist components to form the Italian Democratic Socialists. Bobo Craxi joined this party, along with his Socialist League, in occasion of the 1999 European Parliament election. Following that election, Fabrizio Cicchitto and Margherita Boniver joined Forza Italia.
The party was merged with the Socialist League to form the New Italian Socialist Party in 2001. Gianni De Michelis was elected secretary of the new party upon its foundation, which was viewed by many as the direct continuation of the party.