Who Would You Vote For?: Italian Edition

[hcallega]

I am far more confident about who I would support in Italian politics. What party would you guys vote for?
1913: Catholics
1919: Italian People's Party
1921: Italian People's Party
1924: Italian People's Party
1946: Christian Democracy
1948: Christian Democracy
1953: Christian Democracy
1958: Christian Democracy
1963: Christian Democracy
1968: Christian Democracy
1972: Christian Democracy
1976: Christian Democracy
1979: Christian Democracy
1983: Christian Democracy
1987: Christian Democracy
1992: Christian Democracy
1994: Italian People's Party
1996: Italian People's Party
2001: Italian People's Party
2006: Olive Tree
2008: Union of the Center
2010 Regional: Lombardy (Milanese Ancestors): Fillipo Penati

Essentially, my Christian Democratic ideology is the basis for my votes. However, due to the break up of Christian Democracy, there are several parties that would apply. Ultimately I'm center-left (despite my short-time interest in Jacques Chirac) and I would support the center-left Christian Democratic parties. I also find Berlesconi to be a complete windbag, fool, and moral incompetent. Ironically he is the owner of my favorite soccer club (AC Milan).

As you can probably tell by my username, my last name is Italian.

[Kuu ülevaade olulisematest]

1913-24: Whoever the boss decided to count my vote for
1946: Socialist
1948: Popular Front
1953: Socialist
1958: Socialist
1963: Socialist
1968: Unified Socialist
1972: Communist
1976: Communist
1979: Communist
1983: Communist
1987: Communist
1992: Democratic Party of the Left
1994: Alliance of Progressives
1996: The Olive Tree
2001: The Olive Tree
2006: The Union
2008: Democratic

[hcallega]

1913-24: Whoever the boss decided to count my vote for
1946: Socialist
1948: Popular Front
1953: Socialist
1958: Socialist
1963: Socialist
1968: Unified Socialist
1972: Communist
1976: Communist
1979: Communist
1983: Communist
1987: Communist
1992: Democratic Party of the Left
1994: Alliance of Progressives
1996: The Olive Tree
2001: The Olive Tree
2006: The Union
2008: Democratic

I can see why your avatar is red lol

[Formerly Californian Tony]

Post-1945 :

1946 : Pd'A
1948 : US
1953 : PSDI
1958 : PSI
1963 : PSI
1968 : PSU
1972 : PSI
1976 : PSI
1979 : PR
1983 : PR
1987 : PR
1992 : PDS
1994 : PDS
1996 : PDS
2001 : DS
2006 : IdV
2008 : Idv

(I'm not sure of every pick, but that seems the most likely)

[hcallega]

 

Post-1945 :

1946 : Pd'A
1948 : US
1953 : PSDI
1958 : PSI
1963 : PSI
1968 : PSU
1972 : PSI
1976 : PSI
1979 : PR
1983 : PR
1987 : PR
1992 : PDS
1994 : PDS
1996 : PDS
2001 : DS
2006 : IdV
2008 : Idv

(I'm not sure of every pick, but that seems the most likely)

I could see you supporting the Republican Party in 1946, as they were essentially the same ideologically as the Action Party, just without the history of being as anti-fascist

The problem with Italian politics is that for the most part between 1946 and 1992 it was Socialists, Communists, and everyone else! Thats why you have so many parties and factions since then.

For those who know very little about Italian Politics, you currently have two major coalitions, the center-right, led by Silvio Berlusconi, and the center-left, led by Bersani. The major center-right party is The People of Freedom, a combination of Forza Italia, led by Berlusconi, and the National Alliance, led by Gianfranco Finni. The Berlesconi Faction is a traditional center-right bloc, supporting social conservatism, self-reliance, and federalism. In many ways they are economically populist, and even draw in some former socialists. The Finni faction is far less socially conservative, more like a French conservative party. They are more or less in line with Liberal Conservatism. The major disagreements in the party are over end of life issues, stem cell research, and the separation of church and state. Finni is to the left of Berlusconi on these issues, even though Berlusconi is no choir boy.

The major party on the center-left is the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party is the brainchild of former PM Romano Prodi. It is the natural successor of the Olive Tree Coalition, which was made up of many different center-left political parties. The largest two of these were the Democrats of the Left, a social democratic party, and Democracy is Freedom, a Christian left party. In total, eight parties made up this coalition. Essentially, most of those on the left support this party.

There are three other parties worth mentioning. The Lega Nord is a federalist/nationalist/secessionist party that is very powerful in Northern Italy. As of now they generally agree on creating a federalist Italian state, where each province holds power. On issues outside of Northern Italy, they are center-right. Socially they are conservative, and economically they are generally center-right/populist. However they are somewhat environmentalist. Italy of Values is a rising force in Italian politics. As an anti-corruption and centrist party, they are reinforcing the trend of rising opposition to the corruption that is so common place in Italy. However there is a great deal of factional division between those on the left and those who want to keep the party as a centrist alternative to the Democrats. Finally there is the Union of the Center. They aren't doing so hot lol. Essentially they want to be a catch-all for social conservatives, taking shots at Berlusconi and attempting to peal away Christian Democrats in the Democratic Party. Right now they only do well in Southern Italy, the traditional base of the Christian Democrats (poor, but also very Catholic)

[dialectical fetishist]

I would say Communists, but eurocommunism.... ugh.

[hcallega]

I would say Communists, but eurocommunism.... ugh.

haha you would like Italy. It actually had a lot of communists

[dialectical fetishist]

I would say Communists, but eurocommunism.... ugh.

haha you would like Italy. It actually had a lot of communists

Yeah, the Italian Communist Party nearly won the first elections after the war, iirc. But they were also the first to go revisionist, so meh.

[hcallega]

I would say Communists, but eurocommunism.... ugh.

haha you would like Italy. It actually had a lot of communists

Yeah, the Italian Communist Party nearly won the first elections after the war, iirc. But they were also the first to go revisionist, so meh.

Yes indeed. But the reasons behind this was primarily opportunistic and as a means to stay politically competitive. Would you have supported the Red Brigades?

[Formerly Californian Tony]

Italy had one of the most intelligent communist parties in Europe. Just compare it with the French PCF, which has been ruled by stalinist nutjobs until the 1990s. Actually, I could see myself voting for PCI a couple of times, after 1968.

[hcallega]

Italy had one of the most intelligent communist parties in Europe. Just compare it with the French PCF, which has been ruled by stalinist nutjobs until the 1990s. Actually, I could see myself voting for PCI a couple of times, after 1968.

Well they evolved. Pre-1968 they were Stalinist nutjobs. Post 1968 they were simply communist in ideology, and that's what almost led to the Historic Compromise.

[Formerly Californian Tony]

Italy had one of the most intelligent communist parties in Europe. Just compare it with the French PCF, which has been ruled by stalinist nutjobs until the 1990s. Actually, I could see myself voting for PCI a couple of times, after 1968.

Well they evolved. Pre-1968 they were Stalinist nutjobs. Post 1968 they were simply communist in ideology, and that's what almost led to the Historic Compromise.

They're indeed the only ones who managed to evolve and move forward despite the important sociological changes that weakened communist parties in other european countries. The best result the PCI got was in... 1976 ! At a time when the PCF's agony had already begun...
I think the Historic Compromise could have given very good governments to the country, with a strong left-wing force accepting parliamentary democracy and refusing to take power by force. Aldo Moro's assassination, apart from being a disgusting and unforgivable crime, did much harm to the whole italian left.

[dialectical fetishist]

Italy had one of the most intelligent communist parties in Europe. Just compare it with the French PCF, which has been ruled by stalinist nutjobs until the 1990s. Actually, I could see myself voting for PCI a couple of times, after 1968.

So basically, you hated the PCF until they stopped becoming communist.

[Dr. Cynic]

1946: PSIUP
1948: Popular Front
1953: PSI
1958: PSI
1963: PSI
1968: Unified Socialist
1972: PSI
1976: PSI
1979: PSI
1983: PSI
1987: PSI
1992: PDS
1994: Alliance of Progressives
1996: Olive Tree
2001: Olive Tree
2006: DC-NPSI
2008: Democratic

That's about as close as I can guess, really.

[PASOK Leader Hashemite]

1983: PSI
1987: PSI

A corrupt southern clientelistic patronage machine? Disgusting.

[RodPresident]

1946: PSIUP (socialists)
1948: Popular Democratic Front
1953: PCI
1958: Socialist Party (after invasion of Hungary by URSS)
1963: Socialist Party
1968: PSIUP (left-socialist)
1972: PCI
1976: PCI
1979: PCI
1983: PCI
1987: Radical Party (a vote for Cicciolina)
1992: Democrats of Left
1994: Progressives
1996: Communist Refoundation
2001: Communist Refoundation (because Italian support of 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia)
2006: The Union (CR)
2008: The Left-Rainbow

[Manfr]

Hello everyone ! I'd have been very boring in my electoral behaviour

1946: PSIUP (socialists)
1948: Popular Democratic Front
1953: PSI
1958: PSI
1963: PSI
1968: PSI
1972: PSI
1976: DP (Workers' Democracy, far left)
1979: PSI
1983: PSI
1987: PSI
1992: PSI
1994: Progressives / either Democratic Alliance (1,2%, liberal / socialist) or the remnants of the Socialists
1996: Olive Tree / undecided, I could have voted Italian Renewal (liberal, with socialist candidates on the list) or PDS.
2001: Olive Tree / Sunflower ( Green + Socialists)
2006: The Union (Rose in the Fist, liberal-socialist, 2,6%)
2008: Socialist Party (0,9%)

[Formerly Californian Tony]

Welcome to the forum, Manfr !

[Manfr]

thank you ! when I have a little more time, it'd be interesting to post a simulation of the US with italian parties

[Formerly Californian Tony]

thank you ! when I have a little more time, it'd be interesting to post a simulation of the US with italian parties

It would be great, I'd like to see that. However, I think you should use First Republic parties instead of modern ones, they were a lot more interesting IMO.

[wormyguy]

1946: Front of the Ordinary Man
1948: National Bloc
1953: Italian Liberal Party
1958: Italian Liberal Party
1963: Radical Party
1968: Radical Party
1972: Radical Party
1976: Radical Party
1979: Radical Party
1983: Radical Party
1987: Radical Party
1992: Pannella List
1994: Pannella List
1996: Pannella-Sgarbi List
2001: Bonino List-Radical Party
2006: Rose in the Fist
2008: Democratic Party

It's interesting that fusionism, with the left(!), has been relatively quite successful for the Italian libertarian movement.

[Formerly Californian Tony]

I hope you know European libertarians have almost nothing in common with American libertarians.

[Manfr]

italian radicals do have a lot in common with libertarianism !
they even had a paleolibertarian politician, Benedetto della Vedova, who now supports Mr Fini !

[Formerly Californian Tony]

Italian radicals are the embodiment of a current of thought inspired from XIXth century liberalism. They mostly seek to emancipate the Italian society from the Church and aim to establish a secular democracy. Their main focus is on social issues, supporting gay mariage/civil unions, and so forth (they played also an important role in the legalization of divorce in the 1970s). They lean left on economic issues (actually, they were associated with a small social-democratic party until recently) and most of them have now joined the PD.

American libertarians are mostly anarcho-capitalists who seek to eliminate every form of State intervention on economy. Their main struggles are on the economic domain (enormous spending/tax cuts, ending federal programs, etc...). Their rhetoric is usually populist (the "little guys" vs the "evil big government"). While they are theoretically on the left for social issues, those issues always end up getting skipped because fighting "big guv'ment" is the most important thing. Most of them would easily vote for religious nutjob who is fiscally conservative over a social progressive who is also a "tax n spend librul".

[PASOK Leader Hashemite]

1946: Pd'A or PRI
1948: PRI
1953: PRI
1958: PRI
1963: PRI
1968: PRI
1972: PCI
1976: Radical
1979: Radical
1983: Radical
1987: Radical
1992: Pannella List
1994: Alliance of Progressives (Democratic Alliance)
1996: The Olive Tree (PPI-SVP-PRI-UD-Prodi)
2001: The Olive Tree (constituency) and List Bonino-Radical Party (list)
2006: The Union (Rose in the Fist)
2008: Italy of Values