Italian Political Landscape: Parties, Coalitions, and Key Players
Silvio Berlusconi’s 2001 Victory and its Impact on Italian Legislation
Silvio Berlusconi’s victory in 2001 and his return to the Presidency of the Council led to legislation that shielded against judicial initiatives, hampered collaboration between Italian judges and other countries, and softened the criminalization of corporate crimes that affected him personally.
The Northern League: A History and its Political Stance
The Northern League emerged in 1990 from the merger of several autonomist leagues. It surged to prominence as a reaction against the perceived imbalance between the industrial North and the subsidized South. Initially advocating for secession, the party later shifted its focus to proposing a federal state model, believing it would allow the North to better manage its resources. In the 2001 election, the Northern League received 3.9% of the vote, down from 8% and 10% in 1992 and 1996, respectively, with many of its former supporters shifting to Forza Italia.
Political Parties and Coalitions in the 2001 Italian Elections
To optimize their chances under the electoral law, particularly regarding proportional representation seats, parties formed the following coalitions:
Center-Left: The Olive Tree
Led by Francesco Rutelli, The Olive Tree coalition united the former PCI and progressives from the DC. It enjoyed a close relationship with labor unions, which generally aligned with its policy proposals. The Olive Tree included two smaller coalitions:
- La Margherita: Comprising the Italian Popular Party (PPI), Italian Democratic Renewal, and the European Democratic Union.
- The Sunflower: Including the Italian Democratic Socialists (SDI), the Federation of Greens, the Left Democrats (DS) (former Communists and Socialists), and the Party of Italian Communists (PdCI).
Center-Right: House of Freedoms
Headed by Silvio Berlusconi, the House of Freedoms coalition included the Biancofiore sub-coalition, a moderate conservative group consisting of two Catholic parties: the Christian Democratic Center (CCD) and the United Christian Democrats (CDU). The coalition also included three other parties: Forza Italia (led by Berlusconi), the National Alliance (led by Fini), and the Northern League (led by Bossi).
Other Political Parties
Several parties remained outside these major coalitions:
- Bonino List: Led by former European Commissioner Emma Bonino, with members of the Radical Party.
- Di Pietro List: Led by former prosecutor Antonio di Pietro, the figurehead of the Clean Hands investigation, with an anti-corruption program.
- Communist Refoundation: Comprising Communists who did not join the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS).
Lobbyists and their Influence on Italian Politics
Most lobbyists operated within specific political subcultures (Communist, Catholic, or Socialist), leading to a proliferation of groups as each professional category was subdivided into ideologically aligned factions linked to political parties. The most prominent lobbyists were economic (unions and employers), followed by ideological groups, particularly the Catholic Church.
Major Labor Unions
- Italian General Confederation of Labor (CGIL): Communist-leaning.
- Italian Confederation of Workers’ Unions (CISL): Catholic-inspired.
- Italian Labor Union (UIL): Social-leaning.
- Cisnal: A smaller, neo-fascist union.
Their financial constraints often made these unions heavily reliant on political parties.
Major Employer Organizations
- General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria): Representing big businesses.
- National Confederation of Small Industries (Confapi).
- General Confederation of Italian Agriculture (Confagricoltura).
- National Confederation of Direct Farmers (Coldiretti): Highly influential in attracting rural votes, particularly for the DC until 1960, and in proposing many Ministers of Agriculture.
- Italian Federation of Agricultural Partnerships (Federconsorzi).
Other Influential Groups
Other significant groups included major corporations like FIAT, Pirelli, Montedison, and Olivetti, as well as public insurance companies and companies with government involvement.