Centre-left coalition

Centre-left coalition
Coalizione di centrosinistra
Leader Matteo Renzi
Founded 14 October 2007
Preceded by The Union
Political position Centre-left
Colours Red
Chamber of Deputies
342 / 630
Senate
124 / 315
Regional Government
16 / 20
Politics of Italy
Political parties
Elections

Centre-left coalition (Italian: Coalizione di centrosinistra) refers to a political alliance of political parties in Italy, which contested the 2008 and the 2013 general elections under the leadership of Walter Veltroni in 2008 and Pier Luigi Bersani in 2013. The centre-left coalition succeeded The Union and The Olive Tree which had existed from 1996 to 2007.

2008 general election

The coalition was launched after the dissolution of The Union during the political crisis of 2008. The leader of the coalition was Walter Veltroni, secretary of the Democratic Party and former Mayor of Rome.[1] In the 2008 general election the coalition was as follows:

Party Ideology Leader
Democratic Party (PD) Social democracy, Christian left Walter Veltroni
Italy of Values (IdV) Populism, Anti-corruption Antonio Di Pietro

2013 general election

Main article: Italy. Common Good

The coalition ran also for the 2013 general election, as Italy. Common Good, under the leadership of PD secretary Pier Luigi Bersani.[2] In the event, it included, among others:

Party Ideology Leader
Democratic Party (PD) Social democracy, Christian left Pier Luigi Bersani
Left Ecology Freedom (SEL) Democratic socialism, Eco-socialism Nichi Vendola
Democratic Centre (CD) Centrism, Christian left Bruno Tabacci
Italian Socialist Party (PSI) Social democracy, Socialism Riccardo Nencini

Current composition

In 2013 the Democratic Party and the Democratic Centre supported the cabinets of Enrico Letta and then of Matteo Renzi, while SEL strongly opposed them. The coalition, which functions only at local level, is composed of the following parties:

Party Ideology Leader
Democratic Party (PD) Social democracy, Christian left Matteo Renzi
Left Ecology Freedom (SEL) Democratic socialism, Eco-socialism Nichi Vendola
Democratic Centre (CD) Centrism, Christian left Bruno Tabacci
Italian Socialist Party (PSI) Social democracy, Socialism Riccardo Nencini

Electoral results

Italian Parliament

Chamber of Deputies
Election year # of
overall votes		 % of
overall vote		 # of
overall seats won		 +/– Leader
2008 13,689,303 (#2) 37.5
239 / 630
–
 Walter Veltroni
2013 10,047,603 (#1) 29.5
345 / 630
Increase 106
 Pier Luigi Bersani
Senate of the Republic
Election year # of
overall votes		 % of
overall vote		 # of
overall seats won		 +/– Leader
2008 12,457,182 (#2) 38.7
130 / 315
–
Walter Veltroni
2013 9,686,683 (#1) 31.6
127 / 315
Decrease 3
 Pier Luigi Bersani

References

  1. ↑ "Berlusconi declares election win". BBC News. 14 April 2008.
  2. ↑ "Italian election results: gridlock likely – as it happened". Guardian. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.