Project Republic of Sardinia

Project Republic of Sardinia
Progetu Repùbrica de Sardigna
Secretary Gianluca Collu
Presidents Federica Serra
Sandro Ghiani
Founded 2 January 2011
Headquarters Nuoro
Ideology Sardinian nationalism
Separatism
Social democracy
National affiliation Sardegna Possibile
Colours White and green
Website
progeturepublica.net
Politics of Italy
Political parties
Elections

Project Republic of Sardinia (Progetu Repùblica de Sardigna, ProgReS) is a separatist and social-democratic political party in Sardinia, founded in January 2011 following an acrimonious split from Independence Republic of Sardinia (iRS). The party's current national presidents are Federica Serra Pala and Sandro Ghiani, while the current secretary is Paolo Piras.[1]

History

In January 2011, after a struggle with Gavino Sale, president of iRS, the iRS faction led by former leader Ornella Demuru, including iRS founding members Frantziscu Sanna and Franciscu Sedda, decided to leave the party and launch a "Republican Constituent Assembly" (Sa Costituente Repubricana).[2][3] In February the new party took the name of Project Republic of Sardinia (ProgReS) and Bobore Bussa was elected as provisional leader.[4][5]

The party made its first electoral appearance in May 2011 at the municipal elections in Cagliari and Olbia by filing candidates for mayor (Demuru in Cagliari and Gianmaria Bellu in Olbia) and for the city councils. In both cases ProgReS mayoral candidates took less than 1% of the vote. However, the results were welcomed as encouraging, considering the paucity of resources available, as well as the fact the party was new and had yet to made a name for itself.[6]

At the party's first conference in August 2011, Bussa was replaced as secretary by Salvatore Acampora, while Omar Onnis was elected president.[7][8]

In July 2012 Demuru and Sedda left the party over disagreements with the new leadership and the rise of Michela Murgia, a well-known writer.[9][10] A year later Sedda went on to launch the Party of Sardinians (PdS) along with Paolo Maninchedda, a splinter from the Sardinian Action Party (PSd'Az).[11]

The party's second conference took place in Cagliari in December 2012. Party members were presented with two proposals: one that saw candidates for the main party roles lead by Contu; an alternative proposal whereby each coordinator of the nine regional constituencies would have taken the role of party leader for a limited period time, thus creating a turning leadership. The team led by Contu won and the proposal of a turning leadership was rejected. The conference also accepted a proposal to appoint two party presidents, a female and a male. Federica Serra (who was mainly responsible for the rejuvenation of iRS graphics) and Sandro Ghiani were elected presidents.

In August 2013 Murgia announced she was running for President of Sardinia in the 2014 regional election for ProgRes.[12] In the election Murgia 10.3% of the vote, but ProgReS, which suffered the competition of two coalition partners, gained 2.8% and failed to pass the 5% threshold for parties outside big coalitions.[13]

Organisation

The party is organised in eight regional constituencies (Cagliari/Castèddu; Sulcis-Iglesiente; Medio Campidano/Campidànu; Oristano/Aristànis; Nuoro/Nùgoro; Ogliastra/Ogiàstra; Sassari/Tàtari; Gallura/Gaddhùra) and a ninth constituency (Distèrru) representing the Sardinian diaspora in Europe and the world. Although many Sardinians live outside of Sardinia, iRS and ProgReS were the first parties to make provisions for representation and involvement of the Sardinian diaspora in regional politics. Party constituencies publish some magazines on the web. For instance, the Disterru constituency publishes Su Bandu with articles in English, Sardinian and Italian.

Leadership

References

  1. ↑ Progres, Paolo Piras nuovo segretario "Avanti col progetto Sardegna Possibile" - Cronache dalla Sardegna - L'Unione Sarda
  2. ↑ http://edicola.unionesarda.it/Articolo.aspx?Data=20110103&Categ=0&Voce=1&IdArticolo=2537274
  3. ↑ Nasce la fase Costituente voluta dagli indipendentisti democratici repubblicani » ProgReS - Progetu Repùblica
  4. ↑ http://edicola.unionesarda.it/Articolo.aspx?Data=20110214&Categ=0&Voce=1&IdArticolo=2551363
  5. ↑ Scelto il nome del nuovo partito: Bobore Bussa sarà il segretario » ProgReS - Progetu Repùblica
  6. ↑ ProgReS sui risultati delle elezioni amministrative » ProgReS - Progetu Repùblica
  7. ↑ Nasce ProgReS Progetu Repùblica è subito guinness » ProgReS - Progetu Repùblica
  8. ↑ Acampora nuovo leader di Progres-Regione Autonoma della Sardegna
  9. ↑ Anche ProgReS si sfascia! Franciscu Sedda, Ornella Demuru e tanti altri abbandonano il partito indipendentista, schiacciati dalle ambizioni di… Michela Murgia! - vitobiolchini
  10. ↑ Perché ProgReS e Michela Murgia pensano di essere intoccabili? Perché negano l’evidenza? Perché vogliono decidere cosa è una notizia e cosa non lo è? - vitobiolchini
  11. ↑ Ecco il Partito dei sardi di Maninchedda "Pronti ad alleanza col centrosinistra" - Politica - L'Unione Sarda
  12. ↑ Michela Murgia candidata presidente Centrodestra, pronto Pili. Pd: idea Soru - Politica - L'Unione Sarda
  13. ↑ Sardegna - Elezioni Regionali del 16 febbraio 2014 - la Repubblica.it

External links