Forza Italia (2013)
Forza Italia[nb 1] (FI; lit. 'Forward Italy' or 'Come on Italy' or 'Let's Go Italy')[2][3][4][5] is a centre-right[6][7] political party in Italy, whose ideology includes elements of liberal conservatism,[8][9][10] Christian democracy,[8][11] liberalism[12][13] and populism.[14][15][16] FI is a member of the European People's Party. Silvio Berlusconi (former Prime Minister of Italy, 1994–1995, 2001–2006, and 2008–2011) was the party's leader and president until his death in 2023. The party has since been led by Antonio Tajani (former President of the European Parliament, 2017–2019), who had been vice president and coordinator and now functions as secretary. Other leading members include Elisabetta Casellati (former President of the Senate, 2018–2022).
For the defunct political party active between 1994 and 2009, see Forza Italia.
The party branched out of the People of Freedom (PdL) in 2013, and is a revival of the original Forza Italia (FI), founded in 1994 and disbanded in 2009, when it was merged with National Alliance (AN) and several minor parties to form the PdL. FI is a smaller party than the early PdL,[17] which suffered three significant splits: Future and Freedom in 2010, Brothers of Italy in 2012, and the New Centre-Right in 2013. In the 2018 general election FI was overtaken by the League as the largest party of the centre-right coalition, and in the 2022 general election it became the third largest in the coalition, as Brothers of Italy (FdI) became the new dominant party of the Italian centre-right.
After participating in the national unity government led by Mario Draghi, in October 2022 FI joined the government majority of the Meloni Cabinet with five ministers, including Tajani as deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister.
History[edit]
Background and foundation[edit]
The new FI, announced in June 2013,[18][19] was launched on 18 September[20][21][22][23] and the PdL was formally dissolved into the party on 16 November.[24] The day before a group of dissidents (mainly Christian democrats), led by Berlusconi's former protégé Angelino Alfano, had broken away by announcing the foundation of the alternative New Centre-Right (NCD).[25] Another group of PdL members, led by former mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno, had left the party earlier to form Italy First and would later join Brothers of Italy (FdI).[26] According to Berlusconi, the PdL would become a coalition of centre-right parties, including the new FI, Lega Nord (LN), the NCD, the FdI, etc.[27]
Among the supporters of the return to FI, the so-called "hawks"[28] and self-proclaimed "loyalists",[29] a leading role was played by Raffaele Fitto, who, despite the common Christian-democratic background, was a long-time rival of Alfano. Loyalists included Antonio Martino, Renato Brunetta, Denis Verdini, Mariastella Gelmini, Mara Carfagna, Daniela Santanchè, Niccolò Ghedini and Daniele Capezzone, while Maurizio Gasparri, Altero Matteoli and Paolo Romani tried to mediate, but finally joined the new FI.[30][31] The symbol of FI made its return in the 2013 Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol provincial elections, although in a regional fashion: "Forza Trentino"[32] and "Forza Alto Adige" (in list with Lega Nord Alto Adige – Südtirol).[33]
On 27 November, the Senate approved Berlusconi's expulsion,[34] following the leader's conviction for tax evasion in August, when Berlusconi was sentenced to four years of imprisonment, the last three being automatically pardoned.[35] The day before FI had joined the opposition to Enrico Letta's government,[36] which was still supported by Alfano's NCD instead. The latter voted against Berlusconi's expulsion,[37][38] but since then completely parted ways from FI.
Internal struggles and Toti's rise[edit]
As of the end of December 2013, Berlusconi was set to appoint two vice presidents: Antonio Tajani (European Commissioner and vice president of the European People's Party) and Giovanni Toti (former editor of Studio Aperto and TG4,[39] two news programs of Berlusconi's Mediaset).[40] As a result of the resentment by the party's old guard, notably including Fitto, on the alleged appointment of Toti also as coordinator-at-large, Berlusconi appointed him merely "political counselor" to the party.[41][42]
Official logo,
2013–present
Electoral logo,
2014–2018
Party flag
