Liberal Populars

History

Originally a faction within the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC), the PL were launched in February 2007 and named that way in October. Its leaders were Carlo Giovanardi and Emerenzio Barbieri, who wanted closer ties with Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and the other parties of the House of Freedoms coalition, including Lega Nord. In April Giovanardi's bid to become secretary of the UDC had been supported by the 13.8% of the vote during a party congress.

When, on 18 November 2007, Berlusconi proposed the formation of The People of Freedom (PdL) party, Giovanardi suddenly hinted that he could leave UDC and join the new party. That finally happened on 4 February 2008, citing that the 72% of UDC voters would be interested in voting the PdL. UDC members who followed Giovanardi included Vito Bonsignore, Tomaso Zanoletti, Luigi Compagna, Giuseppe Galati, Francesco Lucchese, Alfredo Meocci and Francesco Massi. The PL were joined also by Riccardo Conti, a former UDC member who was then in Middle Italy. In early April PL announced an alliance, within the PdL, with Gianfranco Rotondi's Christian Democracy for Autonomies.

In the 2008 general election the party got two deputies and two senators elected in the PdL's lists. After the election, Giovanardi was appointed Undersecretary in the Berlusconi IV Cabinet.

On 29 March 2009 the party was merged into the PdL, during the first PdL's congress, and was converted into a faction.

On 15 November 2013 the PL left the PdL in order to join the newly formed New Centre-Right (NCD) party.

On 26 November 2015 the PL left the NCD. A month later the party joined Identity and Action (IdeA).

References

References

1. (28 January 2007). "il Giornale 2007-01-28 - Giovanardi: "Udc da sola? Tradimento"".
2. "la Repubblica 2007-04-15 - Udc, l'arringa di Casini "Orgoglioso delle nostre scelte"".
3. "Rai News 24 2007-04-15 - Casini: siamo contro la sinistra, l'obiettivo e' il partito dei moderati. Cesa confermato segretario".
4. "la Repubblica 2007-11-19 - L'ira del Cavaliere "Vado da solo, non mi farò oscurare dagli alleati"".
5. (19 November 2007). "il Giornale 2007-11-19 - Nuovo partito, l'Udc si divide".
6. "Giovanardi lascia l'Udc per il Pdl Corriere della Sera".
7. (21 February 2008). "la Repubblica 2008-02-21 - Il giornalista Mazzuca corteggiato dal Pdl Giovanardi: Faremo sparire tutto l' Udc".
8. (17 February 2008). "la Repubblica 2008-02-17 - Udc, cominciato l' esodo Bonsignore va con Silvio".
9. "Corriere del Mezzogiorno 2008-04-07 - Montezemolo benedice la candidatura di D'Amato. In lista con il Pdl anche lady Fede".
10. "Corriere della Sera 2007-04-11 - Silvio, le donne e il punto G: è l'ultima lettera di "shopping"".
11. "Corriere della Sera.it, biografia di Riccardo Conti".
12. [http://www.radioradicale.it/scheda/250859/i-democristiani-nel-pdl "I democristiani nel PdL", Radio Radicale].
13. (25 March 2009). "la Repubbblica 2009-03-25 - Pdl, è scontro tra An e Fi su regole e circoli".
14. (26 March 2009). "la Repubblica 2009-03-26 - Mini-popolari, micro-liberali, socialisti bonsai il partitone assediato dai Nanetti della Libertà".
15. S.p.A., Società Editrice Athesis. "Popolari liberali nel Ncd in pista per le primarie".
16. (26 October 2015). "Carlo Giovanardi lascia Ncd e maggioranza. "Ma non torno in Forza Italia"".
17. (26 October 2015). "Giovanardi (e i suoi) dicono addio ad Alfano: "Basta essere gli utili idioti di Renzi"".
18. Santoro, Roberto. (25 November 2015). "Centrodestra, Quagliariello lancia "Idea". Alternativi a Renzi, guardando ai territori".