Autonomists for Europe
Encyclopedia
Autonomists for Europe is a minor regionalist
, Christian-democratic
and liberal
Italian political party. Founded in 2000 by splinters of Lega Nord as a potentially dangerous competitor, is now a rather marginal force. Its leading members were Vito Gnutti and Domenico Comino, both former Ministers for Lega Nord in Berlusconi I Cabinet
.
The party was started as a federation of regional parties on the example of Lega Nord: Lombardy Lombardy, Future Veneto
(which finally merged with Liga Veneta Repubblica to form Veneti d'Europa), Piedmont, Giulian Front
(which then re-gained much of its independence), Future Liguria and Tuscanian Homelands. The party was mainly composed by moderate members of Lega Nord who wanted to join forces with Silvio Berlusconi
's Forza Italia
, at a time when the League was perceived to be closer to the centre-left
.
Initially the party had five members in the Chamber of Deputies
(Domenico Comino, Mario Lucio Barral, Franca Gambato, Daniele Roscia and Stefano Signorini) and six in the Senate (Vito Gnutti, Roberto Avogadro, Giuseppe Ceccato
, Luciano Lago, Luciano Lorenzi and Donato Manfroi). Later, in the Senate, a parlamentarian joined (Walter Bianco) and prior to the 2001 general election
the Autonomists formed a group with some members of European Democracy
(Giovanni Polidoro, Ortensio Zecchino and Giulio Andreotti
), which had splitted by Italian People's Party (1994). When Lega Nord formed an alliance with Forza Italia and the other parties of the centre-right
, the House of Freedoms
, ApE lost its reason of existence.
At that time ApE was almost disbanded and most of its members joined UDC. What remains of the party takes part only to local electoral contexts, often under the banner of other larger parties, such as the Italy of Values
in Milan
. At the national level the party generally supports The Union
, the centre-left coalition led by Romano Prodi
.
Regionalism (politics)
Regionalism is a term used in international relations. Regionalism also constitutes one of the three constituents of the international commercial system...
, Christian-democratic
Christian Democracy
Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching...
and liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
Italian political party. Founded in 2000 by splinters of Lega Nord as a potentially dangerous competitor, is now a rather marginal force. Its leading members were Vito Gnutti and Domenico Comino, both former Ministers for Lega Nord in Berlusconi I Cabinet
Berlusconi I Cabinet
The Berlusconi I Cabinet was the cabinet of the government of Italy from 10 May 1994 to January 17, 1995.It was composed of 26 ministers and 38 under-secretaries, for a total of 64 members.Composition of the government:...
.
The party was started as a federation of regional parties on the example of Lega Nord: Lombardy Lombardy, Future Veneto
Future Veneto
Future Veneto was a short-lived Venetist political party active in Veneto.In 1999 Giuseppe Ceccato, national president of Liga Veneta and senator, was expelled from Lega Nord...
(which finally merged with Liga Veneta Repubblica to form Veneti d'Europa), Piedmont, Giulian Front
Giulian Front
Giulian Front is a regionalist political party active in the Province of Trieste, Italy.Formed in the mid 1990s, the party strives for the independence of Trieste from Italy , in line with a tradition started with the Independence Front for the Free Giulian State after World War II and continued...
(which then re-gained much of its independence), Future Liguria and Tuscanian Homelands. The party was mainly composed by moderate members of Lega Nord who wanted to join forces with Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
's Forza Italia
Forza Italia
Forza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy....
, at a time when the League was perceived to be closer to the centre-left
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
.
Initially the party had five members in the Chamber of Deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
(Domenico Comino, Mario Lucio Barral, Franca Gambato, Daniele Roscia and Stefano Signorini) and six in the Senate (Vito Gnutti, Roberto Avogadro, Giuseppe Ceccato
Giuseppe Ceccato
Giuseppe Ceccato is a Venetist politician.He joined Liga Veneta in the 1980s, long before the foundation of Lega Nord in 1991. He was twice elected to the Italian Senate in 1994 and 1996. After the split of Liga Veneta Repubblica in 1998, he was elected national president of Liga Veneta. However...
, Luciano Lago, Luciano Lorenzi and Donato Manfroi). Later, in the Senate, a parlamentarian joined (Walter Bianco) and prior to the 2001 general election
Italian general election, 2001
A national general election was held in Italy on May 13, 2001 to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. The 14th Parliament of the Italian republic was chosen....
the Autonomists formed a group with some members of European Democracy
European Democracy
European Democracy was a minor christian-democratic Italian political party.It was founded in 2000 by Sergio D'Antoni , Giulio Andreotti and Ortensio Zecchino, all three spliters from the Italian People's Party...
(Giovanni Polidoro, Ortensio Zecchino and Giulio Andreotti
Giulio Andreotti
Giulio Andreotti is an Italian politician of the now dissolved centrist Christian Democracy party. He served as the 42nd Prime Minister of Italy from 1972 to 1973, from 1976 to 1979 and from 1989 to 1992. He also served as Minister of the Interior , Defense Minister and Foreign Minister and he...
), which had splitted by Italian People's Party (1994). When Lega Nord formed an alliance with Forza Italia and the other parties of the centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
, the House of Freedoms
House of Freedoms
The House of Freedoms , was a major Italian centre-right political and electoral alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi. It was initially composed of several political parties:*Forza Italia *National Alliance...
, ApE lost its reason of existence.
At that time ApE was almost disbanded and most of its members joined UDC. What remains of the party takes part only to local electoral contexts, often under the banner of other larger parties, such as the Italy of Values
Italy of Values
Italy of Values is a centrist, populist and anti-corruption political party in Italy. The party, which is affiliated to the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party , is headed by former Mani pulite prosecutor Antonio Di Pietro, who entered politics in 1996.The party aims to gather and give...
in Milan
Province of Milan
The Province of Milan : /) is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Milan. The provincial territory is highly urbanized, resulting in the third highest population density among the Italian provinces with more than 2,000 inhabitants/km2, just behind the provinces of...
. At the national level the party generally supports The Union
The Union (political coalition)
The Union was an centre-left coalition of political parties in Italy. It was led by Romano Prodi, Prime Minister of Italy from April 2006 to April 2008, and former President of the European Commission.-Parties:...
, the centre-left coalition led by Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi is an Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy, from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008...
.