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The new (1993) electoral law forced the creation of big political assemblages.
It is worth noticing that the assemblages and some new
parties have adopted symbols based on the Italian flag.
The Left assemblage's (for the 1994 elections) symbol was a white
circle with red-white-green strips and the word "Progressisti"
(Progressives). In the Middle assemblage symbol there are the
red-white-green strips tied together.
The bigger (and newer) party in the Right Assemblage is
identified by a variation on the Italian flag: the white strip is
oblique and narrow and they add the words "Forza
Italia" (Cheer up Italy).
I think all the assemblages use the national colors because:
Some aged parties too have used the national flag in
their symbols. Curiosly they are left or right oriented parties,
not middle. In the PCI's (Italian Communist Party) symbol there
was a national flag mostly hidden by a red sickle-and-hammer
flag: I suppose it meant the communist ideology superimposed over
the national identity. Today "Rifondazione
Comunista" (neo-communist party) still has the red flag
but the national one is represented as a half-circle in the
bottom of the symbol, therefore the superimposition is not so
evident. In the MSI's (neo-fascist party) symbol there was a
green-white-red flame. PLI (Italian Liberal Party) directly used
the national flag with the three letters P L I over the three
strips. Both of them are conservative parties: they used national
flag and colors to emphasize patriotism. In fact in Italian
culture patriotism is considered a conservative idea.
Giuseppe Bottasini
The current system of political parties in Italy is
complicated due to the great number of parties, their frequent
fissions and fusions and name changes, and the electoral system
urging the parties to form bigger coalitions and sub-coalitions
for the elections. I will try to give an overview of the current
(2001/2002) system of parties and coalitions.
There are basically five groups of parties in Italy:
1. The parties that came together to form the right-wing
coalition "Casa delle Libertą" for the 2001 elections.
2. The parties that came together to form the left-wing coalition
"L'Ulivo" for the 2001 elections.
3. The "Rifondazione Comunista" (Communist
Refoundation).
4. Regionalist parties.
5. Other parties.
1. "Casa delle Libertą" (House of the liberties)
coalition This currently joins together five parties or
sub-coalitions:
1.1. FI ("Forza Italia" = Go, Italy)
1.2. AN ("Alleanza Nazionale" = National Alliance)
1.3. "Lega Nord" (Northern League)
1.4. UDC ("Unione Democristiana e di Centro" =
Christian-Democratic Union and of Center) sub-coalition, a.k.a
"Biancofiore" The UDC is a sub-coalition of the
"Casa delle Libertą" joining together parties claiming
heritage of the old DC ("Democrazia Cristiana" =
Christian Democracy). The more left-wing fission products of the
DC belong to "L'Ulivo", sub-coalition
"Margherita" (see below 2.2)
1.4.1. CCD ("Centro Cristiano Democratico" = Christian
Democratic Center)
1.4.2. CDU ("Cristiani Democratici Uniti" = United
Christian Democrats).
1.4.3. DE ("Democrazia Europea" = European Democracy)
1.4.4. PDC ("Partito Democratico Cristiano" = Christian
Democratic Party)
1.5. NPSI or Nuovo PSI ("Nuovo Partito Socialista
Italiano" = New Italian Socialist Party).
2. "L'Ulivo" (Olive tree) coalition This currently
joins together four parties and sub-coalitions. After the 2001
election the Girasole sub-coalition split into its constituents,
the SDI and the Verdi; recently several deputies of the UDEUR
left the Margherita group to form an own parliamentary group of
the UDEUR.
2.1. DS ("Democratici di Sinistra" = Democrats of the
Left)
2.2. "Margherita" ("Democrazia č libertą - La
Margherita" = "Democracy is Freedom - The White
Ox-Eye). The Margherita is a sub-coalition of the
"L'Ulivo" coalition joining together parties claiming
heritage of the old DC ("Democrazia Cristiana" =
Christian Democracy). The more right-wing fission products of the
DC belong to "Casa delle Libertą", sub-coalition
"UDC" (see above 1.4)
2.2.1. PPI ("Partito Populare Italiano" = Italian
People's Party)
2.2.2. Democratici ("Democrats")
2.2.3. "Rinnovamento Italiano" (Italian Renewal),
a.k.a. Liste Dini
2.2.4. UDEUR ("Unione Democratici per l'Europa" = Union
Democrats for Europe)
2.3. "Girasole" (Sunflower) sub-coalition
2.3.1. Verdi ("Federazione dei Verdi" = Federation of
the Greens)
2.3.2. SDI ("Socialisti Democratici Italiani" = Italian
Democratic Socialists)
2.4. PdCI ("Partito dei Comunisti Italiani" = Party of
the Italian Communists), a.k.a. Comunisti Italiani
3. "Rifondazione Comunista" (Communist Refoundation)
4. Regionalist parties
4.1. SVP ("Südtiroler Volkspartei" = South Tyrolian
People's Party)
4.2. "Union Valdōtaine" (Aosta Valley Union)
4.3. "Partito Sardo d'Azione" (Sardinian Action Party)
4.4. "Fronte Nazionale Siciliano Sicilia Indipendente"
(Sicilian National Front "Independent Sicily")
4.5. "Autonomisti Trentini" (Trentine Autonomists)
4.6. "Fronte Giuliano" (Julian Front)
4.7. "Liga dei Veneti" (League of the Venetians)
4.8. "Movimento per l'Autonomia della Romagna"
(Movement for the Autonomy of the Romagna)
4.9. "Lega per l'autonomia lombarda" (League for the
Lombardian Autonomy)
4.10. Lega Sud Ausonia (Southern League Ausonia)
4.11. "Lega Sannitica" (Samnite League)
4.12. "Liga Fronte Veneto" (League Front Veneto)
5. Other parties
5.1. Left-wing
5.1.1. PSDI ("Partito dei Socialdemocratici Italiani" =
Party of the Italian Social Democrats)
5.1.2. "Radicali di Sinistra" (Radicals of the Left)
5.1.3. "Partito della Rifondazione Socialista" (Party
of the Socialist Refoundation)
5.1.4. PU ("Partito Umanista Italiano" = Italian
Humanist Party)
5.1.5. PUDI ("Partito Umanista Democratico Italiano" =
Italian Democratic Humanist Party)
5.1.6. PMLI ("Partito Marxista-Leninista Italiana"
=Italian Marxist-Leninist Party)
5.2. Center
5.2.1. "Partito Liberale" (Liberal Party)
5.2.2. PRI ("Partito Repubblicano Italiano" = Italian
Republican Party)
5.2.3. F.d.L. ("Federazione dei Liberali" = Federation
of the Liberals)
5.2.4. "Radicali Italiani" (Italian Radicals), a.k.a.
"Partito Radicale" or "Lista Emma Bonino" or
"Lista Pannella")
5.2.5. "Lista di Pietro - Italia dei Valori" (List di
Pietro - Italy of the Values)
5.2.6. "Partito Pensionati" (Pensionaries' Party)
5.2.7. "Verdi Federalisti" (Federalist Greens)
5.3. Right-wing
5.3.1. MSFT ("Movimento Sociale Fiamma Tricolore"=
Social Movement Tricolour Flame)
5.3.2. "Movimento Italia Sociale" (Movement Social
Italy)
5.3.3. "Fronte Sociale Nazionale" (National Social
Front)
5.3.4. "Forza Nuova" (New Force)
Main sources:
- [fwa02], and earlier editions of
it
- website of the "Camera dei Deputati", the lower house
of the Parliament at <www.camera.it>
- website of the "Senato", the upper house of the
Parliament at <www.senato.it>
- websites of the different parties (will be cited with the more
detailed discussion of the party)
Marcus Schmöger, 16 July 2002
Additional sources I use for describing the Italian parties
(history and programmatics):
-<www.riccati.it/ita_rep>
- <www.iic-berlino.de>
- <www.grandinotizie.it>
- <www.cronologia.it>
- <www.pericles.it>
- <guide.supereva.it/partiti>
- Paolo Carusi (2001) I partiti politici italiani dall'Unitą ad
oggi. Roma (Edizioni Studium).
- Simona Colarizi (1996) Storia dei partiti nell'Italia
repubblicana. Roma (Editori Laterza).
- Girogio Galli (1994) I partiti politici in Italia, 1944-1994.
Torino (UTET Libreria).
- A page with all the election emblems of the 2001 election <cedweb.mininterno.it:8890>
- Election results 2001: <cedweb.mininterno.it:8890/camera/B000000.htm>,<C000000.htm>
and <senato/S000000.htm>.
Marcus Schmöger, 27 July 2002
by Antonio Martins, 8 July 1999
This is the flag of the Federazione dei Communisti Anarchici
(Anarchic Communists' Federation), reported by Dov Gutterman,
from: <www.pandora.it/fdca>
.Fairily usual anarchist red over black
diagonal, with yellow serif letters "FdCA" parallel to
the partition.
Antonio Martins, 8 July 1999
by Marcus Schmöger, 12 July 2002
CCD ("Centro Cristiano Democratico" = Christian
Democratic Center <www.ccd.it>)
- When the DC renamed itself in January 1994 into PPI the right
wing of the party (under Pierferdinando Casini) split off as CCD,
and joined the election coalition of Berlusconi (then named Polo
della libertą e del buon governo). Again for the 1996 and the
2001 elections the CCD joined the respective center-right
coalitions led by Berlusconi (together with the CDU). The current
leader is Marco Follini.
The logo shows - beside the name and abbreviation of the party -
a white sail on blue, the sail containing stripes in the national
colours and a blue escutcheon with white cross. The logo at <www.ccd.it/ccdsx_file/ccdlogo.jpg>.
The flag is basically a "banner-of-arms" of the logo.
It can be bought at <www.ccd.it/gadget.htm>
for 25000 LIT (about 13 EURO). Fotos of the flag at <www.ccd.it/lombardia/img/1.gif>,
<2.gif>,
<3.gif>,
<4.gif>
and other photos in this site.
Marcus Schmöger, 7 August 2002
by Guillermo Tell Aveledo, 12 August 2000
by Guillermo Tell Aveledo, 12 August 2000
As far as I know the flag that was used was the italian
tricolor with the emblem in center .Also I have reported the flag
with logo on white background and also in light blue backgorund.
Currently exist at least three parties issus from the old La
Democrazia Cristiana
Jaume Olle, 15 September 1998
The once-mighty Italian Christian Democrats - An Italian
tricolori with the crossed shield symbol of the DC, with the word
LIBERTAS in white on the horizontal arm of the red cross above
the withe shield. I've found it those two versions at some DC
books that I have at home
Guillermo Tell Aveledo, 12 August 2000
the "Democrazia Cristiana" ( has split in several
parts (mainly the PPI, the CCD, the CDU)
Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002
by Marcus Schmöger, 15 July 2002
Logo of PDC ("Partito Democratico Cristiano"). No
flag found. PDC belongs to the right-center coalition House of the Liberties (Casa delle
Libertą) led by prime minister Berlusconi.
Marcus Schmöger, 15 July 2002
PDC ("Partito Democratico Cristiano" = Christian
Democratic Party <www.partitodemocraticocristiano.it>)
- The PDC is another small christian-democratic party under the
leadership of Clelio Darida. It now seems to be part of the
"Casa delle Libertą" (as the logo appears on their
website <www.casadelleliberta.net>
), although it had not taken part in the parliamentary elections
in 2001.
I have not found any flag. The logo shows - beside the name of
the party - 12 golden stars in a circle and an escutcheon,
bordered in the national colours, with the inscription
"Difendi la tua libertą" (defend your liberty). The
logo at <cedweb.mininterno.it:8890>.
Marcus Schmöger, 7 August 2002
.gif)
by Marcus Schmöger, 12 July 2002
2.gif)
by Marcus Schmöger, 7 August 2002
Logo of UDC (Unione Democristiana e di Centro), the coalition
of several christian-democratic parties (especially CDU and CCD);
no flag found.
Marcus Schmöger, 12 July 2002
UDC ("Unione Democristiana e di Centro" =
Christian-Democratic Union and of Center), formerly
"Biancofiore" (Whiteflower). Originally founded as
"Biancofiore" (Whiteflower), the UDC is a sub-coalition
of the "Casa delle Libertą" joining together parties
claiming heritage of the old DC ("Democrazia Cristiana"
= Christian Democracy). The more left-wing fission products of
the DC belong to "L'Ulivo", sub-coalition
"Margherita". The UDC (indeed only the CCD and the CDU)
currently holds 40 out of 630 seats in the Camera dei Deputati
and 29 out of 325 in the Senato. In the European Parliament the
CCD and CDU deputies belong to the European People's Party
(Christian Democrats).
The logo brings together the symbols of the participating
parties: in one version only the symbols of the CCD and the CDU,
in another version including the symbols of the DE as well. The
first variant of the logo can be found at
<cedweb.mininterno.it:8890>.
The other variant at <www.democraziaeuropea.it>.
Marcus Schmöger, 7 August 2002
by Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002
Yesterday I saw a flag that is unknown to me. The flag was
used by the Italian Communist Party in '48. It is a typical
communist red flag with a device in the canton composed of the
S&H and the initials P.C.I. below, all in gold. Horizontally
centered and vertically shifted to the bottom, was the name of
the local organization of the party, also in golden capitals. How
official was this? And how was the flag of the party itself? The
same just with the stuff in the canton?
Jorge Candeias, 20 January 1999
The old PCI (Partito Comunista Italiana = Italian Communist
Party) underwent several fissions and renamings in the last 11
years. The flag of the old PCI showed the logo on a red field.
The logo of the PCI was a white circle with the inscription
"P.C.I." (in black) under a red flag (with yellow star,
hammer & sickle) partially covering the national flag.
Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002
See also:
- Democras of the Left
(Democratici di Sinistra)
- Unitarian Communists (Comunisti
Unitari)
- Communist Refoundation Party (Partito della
Rifondazione Comunista)
by Marcus Schmöger, 29 June 2002
There is a photo at <www.looksmart.com>.
Ole Andersen, 27 September 2000
At the 1st May demonstrations in Munich there are also always
political parties and groups from foreign countries including
Italy.
Flag of RC (Rifondazione Comunista = Communist Refoundation) -
The more radical fraction of the former PCI split off from the
PDS to found the RC. The party sometimes supported left-coalition
governments, but the cooperation was always difficult. Two groups
left the RC consecutively, as they wanted a better cooperation
with the government: First (in 1996?) the Comunisti Unitari
(Unitarian Communists), that joined DS in 1998; second (1998) the
PdCI (Partito dei Comunisti Italiani = Party of Italian
Communists), that is still an independent party in the L'Ulivo
coalition. The symbol of the RC is a white circle with a red flag
with yellow hammer&sickle in the center; at the top the black
inscription "PARTITO COMUNISTA", at the bottom
"RIFONDAZIONE"; on the left a green, on the right a red
panel. The flag is red with the symbol in the center.
Sources:
- own observations at the 1st May 2001 and 2002 demos in Munich
- website of RC at <www.rifondazione.it>
Marcus Schmöger, 29 June 2002
The minor fraction of the old Communist Party
(Partito dei Comunisti Italiani) split off from the PDS (Democratic Party of the Left -
Partito Democratico della Sinistra)) and founded a new communist
party, the RC (Rifondazione Comunista = Communist Refoundation).
In 1999, the RC introduced a new logo, that also appears on the
flags (on a red background). Two groups split off from the RC
consecutively: The first (in 1995) were the "Comunisti Unitari"
(Unitarian Communists) and The second fission of the RC occurred
in 1998: another more moderate group founded the PdCI ("Partito dei Comunisti
Italiani" = Party of Italian Communists).
Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002
by Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002
Due to the divisions of the communist in Italy, the flag have
suffered numerous changes and this one is no longer in use.
M.V. Blanes, 27 September 2000
The minor fraction of the old Communist Party
(Partito dei Comunisti Italiani) split off from the PDS (Democratic Party of the Left -
Partito Democratico della Sinistra)) and founded a new communist
party, the RC (Rifondazione Comunista = Communist Refoundation).
The first logo showed (on a white circle) a red flag with yellow
star, yellow hammer & sickle; at the top in a semi-circle the
inscription "PARTITO COMUNISTA", at the bottom a
semi-circle in the national colours. The flags showed this logo
(in different sizes) in the center of a red field. Although
obsolete, these flags have been in widespread use even in 2001.
Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002
For other flags used by this party, see PdCI
by Pier Paolo Lugli, 15 January 1998
This is a flag flown by Italian cowboys during their complaint
campaign against the government. It depicts the black and white
cow smiling at the officers... It is usually placed amid a white
flag in various sizes. Often it extends close to the borders
facing at the hoist.
Pier Paolo Lugli, 15 January 1998
