Social Christians
Encyclopedia
Social Christians is a Christian
social-democratic
faction within the Democratic Party
, a political party in Italy.
The group was founded as a party by trade-union leader Pierre Carniti
and economist Ermanno Gorrieri
and, since their foundation in 1993 in order to represent progressive Catholics and left-wing Christian Democrats
in the Alliance of Progressives
. In 1998 Social Christians contributed to the foundation of the Democrats of the Left
and were later a faction within that party. In 2007 they were keen supporters of the foundation of the Democratic Party and most of its members were very close to the first party leader Walter Veltroni
.
In the 2009 Democratic Party leadership election
the faction chose to support Pier Luigi Bersani
, while two former leading Social Christians, Giorgio Tonini and Stefano Ceccanti, who had been close aides to Walter Veltroni
, supported Dario Franceschini
.
The group currently counts 5,500 members, one deputy
(Fabio Porta), three senators
(Mimmo Lucà, Donata Lenzi and Paolo Corsini), four regional and more than 200 provincial and municipal councillors. Social Christians are a member of the International League of Religious Socialists
.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
social-democratic
Social democracy
Social 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...
faction within 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 political party in Italy.
The group was founded as a party by trade-union leader Pierre Carniti
Pierre Carniti
Pierre Carniti is an Italian politician and trade unionist.Carniti was born in Castelleone, in the province of Cremona, Lombardy. He was general secretary of CISL, a major trade union federation, between 1979 and 1985....
and economist Ermanno Gorrieri
Ermanno Gorrieri
Ermanno Gorrieri was an Italian politician and economist.Gorrieri was born at Sassuolo During World War II he participated in the resistance and was active in the creation of the short-lived Republic of Montefiorino. After the war he was a trade union activist...
and, since their foundation in 1993 in order to represent progressive Catholics and left-wing Christian Democrats
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 ....
in the Alliance of Progressives
Alliance of Progressives
The Alliance of Progressives was a left-wing electoral coalition in Italy in 1994.It was composed of:*the Democratic Party of the Left ;*the Communist Refoundation Party ;...
. In 1998 Social Christians contributed to the foundation of the Democrats of the Left
Democrats 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...
and were later a faction within that party. In 2007 they were keen supporters of the foundation of the Democratic Party and most of its members were very close to the first party leader 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...
.
In the 2009 Democratic Party leadership election
Democratic Party (Italy) leadership election, 2009
The 2009 Democratic Party leadership election was held in July–November 2009 following the resignation of Walter Veltroni in February 2009, after 16 months as secretary of the Democratic Party , the second-largest political party in Italy....
the faction chose to support Pier Luigi Bersani
Pier Luigi Bersani
Pier Luigi Bersani is an Italian politician and the current Secretary of the Democratic Party of Italy, the main center-left political party in Italy . He was Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftmanship from 1996 to 1999, Minister of Transports from 1999 to 2001, and Minister of Economic...
, while two former leading Social Christians, Giorgio Tonini and Stefano Ceccanti, who had been close aides to 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...
, supported Dario Franceschini
Dario Franceschini
Dario Franceschini is an Italian lawyer, writer, and politician, who served as the second leader of the Democratic Party. He has been a prominent member of the Italian People's Party , of the Daisy and the first Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party...
.
The group currently counts 5,500 members, one deputy
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...
(Fabio Porta), three senators
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
(Mimmo Lucà, Donata Lenzi and Paolo Corsini), four regional and more than 200 provincial and municipal councillors. Social Christians are a member of the International League of Religious Socialists
International League of Religious Socialists
The International League of Religious Socialists is an umbrella organization of religious socialist movements in political parties throughout the world. Founded in the 1920s, it has member groups in 21 countries totalling 200,000 members...
.
Leadership
- Coordinator: Pierre CarnitiPierre CarnitiPierre Carniti is an Italian politician and trade unionist.Carniti was born in Castelleone, in the province of Cremona, Lombardy. He was general secretary of CISL, a major trade union federation, between 1979 and 1985....
(1993–1999), Giorgio Tonini (1999–2003), Mimmo Lucà (2003–present) - President: Ermanno GorrieriErmanno GorrieriErmanno Gorrieri was an Italian politician and economist.Gorrieri was born at Sassuolo During World War II he participated in the resistance and was active in the creation of the short-lived Republic of Montefiorino. After the war he was a trade union activist...
(1993–1999), Pierre CarnitiPierre CarnitiPierre Carniti is an Italian politician and trade unionist.Carniti was born in Castelleone, in the province of Cremona, Lombardy. He was general secretary of CISL, a major trade union federation, between 1979 and 1985....
(1999–2003)