Left Ecology Freedom

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Left Ecology Freedom
Sinistra Ecologia Libertà
President Nichi Vendola
Coordinator Francesco Ferrara
Founded 16 March 2009 (launched)
22 October 2010 (founded)
Newspaper none
Membership  (2013) 34,279[1]
Ideology Democratic socialism[2]
Eco-socialism[2]
Political position Left-wing
National affiliation none
International affiliation none
European affiliation none
European Parliament group currently no MEPs
Colours      Red
Former names Left and Freedom
(Italian: Sinistra e Libertà)
Chamber of Deputies
37 / 630
Senate
7 / 315
European Parliament
0 / 73
Regional Government
1 / 20
Website
www.sinistraecologialiberta.it
Politics of Italy
Political parties
Elections

Left Ecology Freedom (Italian: Sinistra Ecologia Libertà, SEL) is a democratic socialist[2] political party in Italy. The party's leader is Nichi Vendola.

According to party documents, SEL is the answer to "a dramatic vacuum at the left" and aims at building an alternative to modern capitalism and a political left for the new century. "The "fundamental principles" of SEL are "peace and nonviolence, employment and social justice, knowledge and ecological reconversion of the economy and society".[citation needed]

According to official party figures, SEL had 125,074 registered members as of December 2012 making it the fourth-largest party in Italy. The majority of members are aged under 60.[citation needed]

Two independents close to SEL, Giuliano Pisapia and Marco Doria, are mayors of Milan and Genoa, respectively. Following 2013 general election, Laura Boldrini, a MP of SEL, was elected President of the Chamber of Deputies on 16 March 2013.

In September 2013 SEL expressed its intention to join the Party of European Socialists (PES),[3] but in January 2014 the party finally endorsed Alexis Tsipras, leader of the Greek Coalition of the Radical Left and standard-bearer of the Party of European Left in the 2014 European Parliament election, to become President of the European Commission.[4]

History

Left and Freedom

SEL was formed as an alliance called Left and Freedom (Italian: Sinistra e Libertà, SL) in the run up to the 2009 European Parliament election in order to overcome the 4% threshold introduced by the new electoral law in February 2009.

At the time of formation, on 16 March 2009, SL included:

The electoral symbol for the 2009 election included the logos of the Party of European Socialists (PES), FV (a member of the European Greens), the European United Left–Nordic Green Left (GUE–NGL). The official name of the list was "Left and Freedom–Green Federation".

In the election, SL failed to pass the 4% threshold. Despite that, it was decided that SL would become a party.

Road to the new party

In October 2009, during a party congress, the Greens elected a new party leader, Angelo Bonelli, and voted to opt-out from the process of the foundation of the new party.[5][6] However, Francescato and her faction decided to keep supporting SL as Ecologists with Left Ecology Freedom and leave the Greens.[7] SL was also weakened by the split occurred within PS, when the United Socialists, who were opposed to the integration of PS into SL, walked out.[8][9] Finally in November SL was hit by the sudden opt-out of the whole PS.[10][11]

Since November 2009 SL was thus composed of MpS, SD, UlS, the Ecologists and Socialism and Left, a small minority of PS that wanted to continue the experience of SL.[12] In December SL was officially launched as a party[13] and Vendola was elected spokesperson.[14]

After an important meeting in September in Naples, where it was decided to add "Ecology" to the party's name,[15] in December 2009 Left Ecology and Freedom (SEL) held a constituent assembly in Rome. The new symbol was presented and Vendola was confirmed as spokesperson. It was also agreed that the party would hold its founding congress in 2010.

SEL, often in coalition with the PS, did well in the 2010 regional elections, especially in Central and Southern Italy. Overall, SEL won 3.0% of the vote, with the PS at 0.7% and the Greens at 0.2%. In the Apulian election Vendola was re-elected President of the Region and trailed SEL to 9.7%, its best regional result.[16]

Nichi Vendola during the party's first congress in Florence.

The party was officially founded in a congress in Florence on 22–24 October 2010. Vendola was elected president.[17]

Road to 2013

In 2011 and 2012 the party offered a strong competition to the Democratic Party (PD) in coalition primaries in many cities. In May 2011 Giuliano Pisapia and Massimo Zedda, who had been supported by SEL in primaries, were elected mayors of Milan and Cagliari, respectively. The party gained 5% in Milan, 6% in Turin, 10% in Bologna, 6% in Trieste, 4% in Naples and 7% in Cagliari.[citation needed]

In occasion of the 2011 referendums of June 2011 (on the abrogation of a law allowing the construction of nuclear power plants in Italy, the abrogation of a law allowing the privatisation of water management and the abrogation of so-called "legitimate impediment"), SEL gave full support to the "yes" committees.

In May 2012 Marco Doria, another independent close to SEL, was elected Mayor of Genoa.

In August 2012 Vendola announced his bid for the primary election in order to select the candidate for Prime Minister of the PD-led center-left in the 2013 general election. On 25 November Vendola won 15.6% of the vote and came third behind Democrats Pier Luigi Bersani (44.9%) and Matteo Renzi (35.5%). In the run-off Vendola supported Bersani, who defeated Renzi 60.9% to 39.1%.[18] SEL selected its candidates for the election through a closed primary in December 2012.[19]

2013 general election

In the 2013 general election, which took place in February 2013, the party was part of the centre-left coalition Italy. Common Good, which supported PD leader Pier Luigi Bersani as candidate for Prime Minister. In the election SEL won 3.2% of the vote, returning 37 deputies and 7 senators. In its Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol's list SEL included some representatives of the Greens of South Tyrol: one of them, Florian Kronbichler, was elected to the Chamber. On 16 March 2013 Laura Boldrini, a member of SEL, was elected President of the Chamber of Deputies.

Platform

On 12 June 2012, the party announced its intention to support a law initiative for the introduction of guaranteed minimum income."[20] On 15 April 2013, a delegation of newly elected MPs handed over to the new President of the Chamber of Deputies Laura Boldrini a list of 50,000 signatures that were quested to submit the initiative. The project is meant to provide a minimum income of € 600 per month to unemployed and underemployed persons with an income of less than € 8,000 per year. [21]

On immigration policy, the party endorsed the abolition of the current law (commonly referred to as "Bossi—Fini", from the names of the right-wing leaders who supported it). The party argues that the existing system has increasingly worsened the plight of migrants by establishing the crime of illegal immigration and violating fundamental human rights through indefinite detention in the centers for identification and expulsion. The party also calls for children of migrant parents to acquire Italian citizenship through a faster track.

The party endorsed the recognition of same-sex marriages. This position was officially approved during a party congress in Florence, which resulted in the request for the extension of civil marriage to same-sex couples. The party also supports LGBT parenting. [22]

Since its foundation, Left Ecology Freedom has been prompting proposals to reduce military expenditure in Italy.[23] In particular, the party's 2013 electoral platform reaffirmed the commitment to non-violent conflict resolution (as per article 11 of Italy's constitution), the withdrawal of Italian troops from from Afghanistan, and the annullation of the purchase of more F–35 Joint Strike Fighter military aircraft.

Electoral results

Italian Parliament

Chamber of Deputies
Election year # of
overall votes		 % of
overall vote		 # of
overall seats won		 +/– Leader
2013 1,089,442 (#6) 3.20
37 / 630
–
 Nichi Vendola
Senate of the Republic
Election year # of
overall votes		 % of
overall vote		 # of
overall seats won		 +/– Leader
2013 912,347 (#6) 2.97
7 / 315
–
 Nichi Vendola

European Parliament

Election year # of
overall votes		 % of
overall vote		 # of
overall seats won		 +/– Leader
2009 958,458 3.10
0 / 72
–
 Nichi Vendola

Leadership

  • Party Leader in the Chamber of Deputies: Gennaro Migliore (2013–present)
  • Party Leader in the Senate: Loredana De Petris (2013–present)


Symbols

  • 2009

  • 2009

  • 2010–present

  • 2010 (electoral symbol)

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sinistraecologialiberta.it/notizie/riccione-il-2-congresso-di-sel-al-centro-della-discussione-le-prospettive-per-il-paese-e-leuropa-la-ricostruzione-di-un-campo-vero-per-la-sinistra/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Parties and Elections in Europe: The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck
  3. ↑ http://www.agi.it/politica/notizie/201309121945-pol-rt10286-lettera_vendola_a_stanishev_sel_vuole_aderire_a_pse
  4. ↑ http://ilmanifesto.it/la-lettera-di-tsipras-a-vendola-per-il-congresso-di-sel/
  5. ↑ "Soli o a sinistra? Rissa all' assemblea dei Verdi". Archiviostorico.corriere.it. 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  6. ↑ "Verdi, a sorpresa vince Angelo Bonelli | Terra - Quotidiano di informazione pulita". Terranews.it. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  7. ↑ "il giornale di Legambiente - Bonelli presidente, il Sole si spacca". La Nuova Ecologia.it. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  8. ↑ "I socialisti di Bobo Craxi: «Autonomi da tutti»". Archiviostorico.corriere.it. 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  9. ↑ Gianni Del Vecchio. "Bobo Craxi - VIP - Europa". Europa. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  10. ↑ "I socialisti oscurano il sito di Sinistra e Libertà La coalizione è in crisi e c'è rischio di scissione - Politica". Repubblica.it. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  11. ↑ "Il Documento Approvato All'Unanimita' Dalla Segreteria Nazionale - Partito Socialista - Primo Piano". Partitosocialista.it. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  12. ↑ "SOCIALISMOeSINISTRA - Associazione Politica e di Promozione Sociale e Culturale". Socialismoesinistra.it. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  13. ↑ "Vendola vara una nuova SEL". LeRagioni.it. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  14. ↑ "Vendola «battezza» il suo movimento Malumori nel Pd". La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno.it. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ "::: Ministero dell'Interno ::: Archivio Storico delle Elezioni - Regionali del 28 Marzo 2010" (in (Italian)). Elezionistorico.interno.it. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  17. ↑ "Vendola: la sinistra deve ripartire dalla piazza Fiom". Archiviostorico.corriere.it. 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2010-12-14. 
  18. ↑ Ha vinto Bersani | Il Post. Ilpost.it (2012-12-02). Retrieved on 2013-08-24.
  19. ↑ Vendola: primarie anche di Sel il 29 e 30, intesa con Bersani - Italia - l'Unità - notizie online lavoro, recensioni, cinema, musica. Unita.it (2008-09-20). Retrieved on 2013-08-24.
  20. ↑ http://www.sinistraecologialiberta.it/pdf/PdL_Redditominimogarantito.pdf
  21. ↑ http://www.sinistraecologialiberta.it/vetrina/reddito-minimo-garantito-parte-la-raccolta-di-firme/
  22. ↑ http://www.sinistraecologialiberta.it/vetrina/un-passo-avanti-nel-dibattito-sulle-coppie-omosessuali/
  23. ↑ petizione taglio spese militari | Sinistra Ecologia Libertà. Sinistraecologialiberta.it. Retrieved on 2013-08-24.
  24. ↑ The role of spokesperson was renamed as president at the 2010 congress.

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