Olive Tree
Encyclopedia
The Olive Tree was a denomination used for several successive centre-left
Italian political coalitions from 1995 to 2007.
The historical leader and ideologue of these coalitions was Romano Prodi
, Professor of Economics and former leftist
Christian Democrat
, who invented the name and the symbol of The Olive Tree with Arturo Parisi
in 1995.
in alliance with the Communist Refoundation Party
(PRC), making Romano Prodi
Prime Minister of Italy. It was the first time since 1946 that the Communists
, now gathered in the Democratic Party of the Left
, took part in the government of the country and one of their leaders, Walter Veltroni
, who ran in ticket with Prodi in a long electoral campaign, was Deputy Prime Minister.
In 1996 the coalition was formed by six parties:
Besides the external support of PRC, the coalition received the support also of some minor parties: the Italian Republican Party
(PRI, social-liberal), Movement for Democracy – The Network (social-democratic), the South Tyrolean People's Party
(regionalist
and Christian democratic) and some other minor parties which later merged with PDS.
fell when PRC left the alliance. Since 21 October 1998 The Olive Tree was the core of the governments led by Massimo D'Alema
(I and II Cabinet, 1998-2000) and by Giuliano Amato
(II Cabinet
, 2000-2001). When D'Alema became Prime Minister, it was the first time ever in Italy and in Europe
that a heir of the communist
tradition came to lead a government.
On 13 May 2001, led by Francesco Rutelli, who ran in ticket with Piero Fassino
, the coalition lost the general elections against Silvio Berlusconi
and his centre-right
House of Freedoms
coalition. In the 2001 general election
, the coalition was composed of six parties:
On 12 June 2004 The Olive Tree, as United in the Olive Tree (), ran in the European Parliament election
gaining 31.1% of popular votes. The Olive Tree of 2004 was a stricter alliance of only four parties:
On 13 September 2004 The Olive Tree was transformed in the Federation of The Olive Tree, consisting of same four parties that campaigned together in the European elections that summer. Romano Prodi, who came back to politics in that year, after five years of President of the European Commission
, was elected President of the federation, which was to become the core of a larger centre-left coalition.
On 10 February 2005, the name and logo of that larger electoral coalition was presented. Its name was The Union
(L'Unione). It comprised the federation of The Olive Tree, the Communist Refoundation Party
(PRC), the Party of Italian Communists
(PdCI), Italy of Values
(IdV), the Federation of the Greens
and some other minor parties.
(DS), Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL) and the European Republicans Movement (MRE) decided to form a joint-list for the 2006 general election
. Also the Italian Democratic Socialist Party
(a different party from SDI) and The Italian Socialists had candidates in the list. The Italian Democratic Socialists
(SDI), which were part of the federation and fight the 2004 European and the 2005 regional elections within it, decided not to take part of the joint list for the 2006 general election and, otherwise, to form a common list within The Union coalition called the Rose in the Fist
along with the libertarian
Italian Radicals
.
DS and DL were heavily involved in the foundation of a new centre-left, the Democratic Party
, a project strongly supported by Romano Prodi since his entrance into politics in 1995. This party was actually founded on 14 October 2007 and Walter Veltroni
was elected party leader by voters in an open primary
.
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...
Italian political coalitions from 1995 to 2007.
The historical leader and ideologue of these coalitions was 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...
, Professor of Economics and former leftist
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
Christian Democrat
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
, who invented the name and the symbol of The Olive Tree with Arturo Parisi
Arturo Parisi
Arturo Parisi is an Italian politician, leader of the Ulivist faction of the Democratic Party and four-time member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies...
in 1995.
In government with Prodi (1996-1998)
On 21 April 1996, The Olive Tree won 1996 general electionItalian general election, 1996
An early national general election was held in Italy on 21 April, 1996 to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic...
in alliance with the Communist Refoundation Party
Communist Refoundation Party
The Communist Refoundation Party is a communist Italian political party. Its current secretary is Paolo Ferrero....
(PRC), making 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...
Prime Minister of Italy. It was the first time since 1946 that the Communists
Italian Communist Party
The Italian Communist Party was a communist political party in Italy.The PCI was founded as Communist Party of Italy on 21 January 1921 in Livorno, by seceding from the Italian Socialist Party . Amadeo Bordiga and Antonio Gramsci led the split. Outlawed during the Fascist regime, the party played...
, now gathered in the Democratic Party of the Left
Democratic Party of the Left
The Democratic Party of the Left was a post-communist, democratic socialist political party in Italy.-History:...
, took part in the government of the country and one of their leaders, Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni, Knight Grand Cross, is an Italian writer, journalist and politician, who served as the first leader of the Democratic Party within the centre-left opposition, until his resignation on 17 February 2009. He served as Mayor of Rome from 2001 to 2008.-Biography:Walter Veltroni was...
, who ran in ticket with Prodi in a long electoral campaign, was Deputy Prime Minister.
In 1996 the coalition was formed by six parties:
- the Democratic Party of the LeftDemocratic Party of the LeftThe Democratic Party of the Left was a post-communist, democratic socialist political party in Italy.-History:...
(PDS, democratic socialistDemocratic socialismDemocratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
); - the Italian People's Party (PPI, Christian democraticChristian DemocracyChristian 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...
); - Italian RenewalItalian RenewalThe Italian Renewal was a liberal-centrist political party in Italy.It was founded in 1996 by Lamberto Dini along with some former Liberals, Socialists, Christian Democrats, Republicans and Social Democrats...
(RI, social-liberalSocial liberalismSocial liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
); - the Federation of the GreensFederation of the GreensThe Federation of the Greens is a green political party in Italy, which includes also a large eco-socialist faction. Since 2009 the party leader is Angelo Bonelli.-Early years:...
(greenGreen politicsGreen politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
); - the Italian SocialistsItalian SocialistsThe Italian Socialists were a minor social-democratic political party in Italy active in Italy from 1994 to 1998....
(SI, social-democraticSocial democracySocial democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
); - Democratic UnionDemocratic Union (Italy)The Democratic Union was a small social-liberal party in Italy.It was founded in 1996 by Antonio Maccanico , Willer Bordon and Giorgio Benvenuto, both members of Democratic Alliance...
(UD, social-liberal);
Besides the external support of PRC, the coalition received the support also of some minor parties: the Italian Republican Party
Italian Republican Party
The Italian Republican Party is a liberal political party in Italy.The PRI is party with old roots that originally took a left-wing position, claiming descent from the political position of Giuseppe Mazzini...
(PRI, social-liberal), Movement for Democracy – The Network (social-democratic), the South Tyrolean People's Party
South Tyrolean People's Party
The South Tyrolean People's Party is a regionalist Christian democratic political party active in the Italian province of South Tyrol.Founded in 1945, the SVP represents the German-speaking population of the province, as well as Ladin speakers. Since the first election of the Provincial Council in...
(regionalist
Regionalism (politics)
Regionalism is a term used in international relations. Regionalism also constitutes one of the three constituents of the international commercial system...
and Christian democratic) and some other minor parties which later merged with PDS.
From D'Alema to Rutelli (1998-2004)
On 9 October 1998, the Prodi I CabinetProdi I Cabinet
The Prodi I Cabinet was the cabinet of the government of Italy from 18 May 1996 to 21 October 1998.-Sources:*...
fell when PRC left the alliance. Since 21 October 1998 The Olive Tree was the core of the governments led by Massimo D'Alema
Massimo D'Alema
Massimo D'Alema is an Italian politician. He is also a journalist and a former national secretary of the Democratic Party of the Left...
(I and II Cabinet, 1998-2000) and by Giuliano Amato
Giuliano Amato
Giuliano Amato is an Italian politician. He was Prime Minister of Italy twice, first from 1992 to 1993 and then from 2000 to 2001. He was more recently Vice President of the Convention on the Future of Europe that drafted the new European Constitution and headed the Amato Group. He is commonly...
(II Cabinet
Amato II Cabinet
The Amato II Cabinet was the 56th cabinet of the Italian Republic, the fourth and last cabinet of the XIII Legislature. It held office from 25 April 2000 to 11 June 2001, a total of 412 days, or 1 year, 1 month and 17 days.Composition of the government:...
, 2000-2001). When D'Alema became Prime Minister, it was the first time ever in Italy and in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
that a heir of the communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
tradition came to lead a government.
On 13 May 2001, led by Francesco Rutelli, who ran in ticket with Piero Fassino
Piero Fassino
Pietro Franco "Piero" Fassino is an Italian politician with the Democratic Party, the current Mayor of Turin and a former national secretary of the Democrats of the Left party.-Biography:...
, the coalition lost the general elections against 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...
and his 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...
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...
coalition. In 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 coalition was composed of six parties:
- the Democrats of the LeftDemocrats of the LeftThe Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
(DS, social-democratic); - Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL, centristCentrismIn politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
, born by the merger of PPI, The DemocratsThe DemocratsThe Democrats may refer to:*Democratic Party *The Democrats *The Democrats *The Democrats...
and RI); - the Party of Italian CommunistsParty of Italian CommunistsThe Party of Italian Communists is a communist political party in Italy. Its long-time leader is Oliviero Diliberto.-Foundation and early years:...
(PdCI, communist); - the Italian Democratic SocialistsItalian Democratic SocialistsThe Italian Democratic Socialists were a small social-democratic political party in Italy. Led by Enrico Boselli, the party was the direct continuation of the Italian Socialists, the legal successor of the historical Italian Socialist Party...
(SDI, social-democratic) - the Federation of the GreensFederation of the GreensThe Federation of the Greens is a green political party in Italy, which includes also a large eco-socialist faction. Since 2009 the party leader is Angelo Bonelli.-Early years:...
(green); - the Democratic Union for Europe (UDEUR, christian-democratic).
The Olive Tree list and federation
European Parliament election, 2004 (Italy)
Elections to the European Parliament were held in Italy on 12 and 13 June 2004. Italy's highly fragmented party system made it hard to identify an overall trend, but the results were generally seen as a defeat for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and a victory for the centre-left opposition...
gaining 31.1% of popular votes. The Olive Tree of 2004 was a stricter alliance of only four parties:
- the Democrats of the LeftDemocrats of the LeftThe Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
(DS, social-democratic); - Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL, centrist);
- the Italian Democratic SocialistsItalian Democratic SocialistsThe Italian Democratic Socialists were a small social-democratic political party in Italy. Led by Enrico Boselli, the party was the direct continuation of the Italian Socialists, the legal successor of the historical Italian Socialist Party...
(SDI, social-democratic); - the European Republicans Movement (MRE, social-liberal)
On 13 September 2004 The Olive Tree was transformed in the Federation of The Olive Tree, consisting of same four parties that campaigned together in the European elections that summer. Romano Prodi, who came back to politics in that year, after five years of President of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, was elected President of the federation, which was to become the core of a larger centre-left coalition.
On 10 February 2005, the name and logo of that larger electoral coalition was presented. Its name was 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:...
(L'Unione). It comprised the federation of The Olive Tree, the Communist Refoundation Party
Communist Refoundation Party
The Communist Refoundation Party is a communist Italian political party. Its current secretary is Paolo Ferrero....
(PRC), the Party of Italian Communists
Party of Italian Communists
The Party of Italian Communists is a communist political party in Italy. Its long-time leader is Oliviero Diliberto.-Foundation and early years:...
(PdCI), 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...
(IdV), the Federation of the Greens
Federation of the Greens
The Federation of the Greens is a green political party in Italy, which includes also a large eco-socialist faction. Since 2009 the party leader is Angelo Bonelli.-Early years:...
and some other minor parties.
The Democratic Party
The Democrats of the LeftDemocrats of the Left
The Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
(DS), Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL) and the European Republicans Movement (MRE) decided to form a joint-list for the 2006 general election
Italian general election, 2006
In the Italian general election, 2006 for the renewal of the two Chambers of the Parliament of Italy held on April 9 and April 10, 2006 the incumbent prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, leader of the center-right House of Freedoms, was narrowly defeated by Romano Prodi, leader of the center-left The...
. Also the Italian Democratic Socialist Party
Italian Democratic Socialist Party
The Italian Democratic Socialist Party is a minor social-democratic political party in Italy. Mimmo Magistro is the party leader. The PSDI, before the 1990s decline in votes and members, had been an important force in Italian politics, being the longest serving partner in government for Christian...
(a different party from SDI) and The Italian Socialists had candidates in the list. The Italian Democratic Socialists
Italian Democratic Socialists
The Italian Democratic Socialists were a small social-democratic political party in Italy. Led by Enrico Boselli, the party was the direct continuation of the Italian Socialists, the legal successor of the historical Italian Socialist Party...
(SDI), which were part of the federation and fight the 2004 European and the 2005 regional elections within it, decided not to take part of the joint list for the 2006 general election and, otherwise, to form a common list within The Union coalition called the Rose in the Fist
Rose in the Fist
The Rose in the Fist was a coalition of parties in Italy.The RnP was composed of the social-democratic Italian Democratic Socialists , the libertarian Italian Radicals and some independent members gathered in the Association for the Rose in the Fist The Rose in the Fist was a coalition of...
along with the libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
Italian Radicals
Italian Radicals
Italian Radicals is an Italian political party which describes itself as a liberale, liberista e libertario political movement .It was...
.
DS and DL were heavily involved in the foundation of a new centre-left, the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Italy)
The Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy, that is the second-largest in the country. The party is led by Pier Luigi Bersani, who was elected in the 2009 leadership election....
, a project strongly supported by Romano Prodi since his entrance into politics in 1995. This party was actually founded on 14 October 2007 and Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni, Knight Grand Cross, is an Italian writer, journalist and politician, who served as the first leader of the Democratic Party within the centre-left opposition, until his resignation on 17 February 2009. He served as Mayor of Rome from 2001 to 2008.-Biography:Walter Veltroni was...
was elected party leader by voters in an open primary
Democratic Party (Italy) leadership election, 2007
The 2007 Democratic Party leadership election was held on 14 October 2007 in order to elect the first leader of the Democratic Party, the largest political party in Italy at the time. The election was conducted as an open primary, with all Italian citizens aged at least 16 and non-Italian legal...
.