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Italy - Political Flags (Part 1)

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Politics and Flags

The new (1993) electoral law forced the creation of big political assemblages.

It is worth noticing that the assemblages and some new parties have adopted symbols based on the Italian flag.
The Left assemblage's (for the 1994 elections) symbol was a white circle with red-white-green strips and the word "Progressisti" (Progressives). In the Middle assemblage symbol there are the red-white-green strips tied together.
The bigger (and newer) party in the Right Assemblage is identified by a variation on the Italian flag: the white strip is oblique and narrow and they add the words "Forza Italia" (Cheer up Italy).

I think all the assemblages use the national colors because:

  • The national flag is not related to any political trend, it's "neutral" enough to be used by all parties. The new assemblages do not want to be politically extreme, all of them want to persuade the common, politically-middle man.
  • The national flag represents the unity of the nation. One of the new parties, "Lega Nord", asserts the independence of the northern part called "Padania". The assemblages assert instead the unity of the nation.

Some aged parties too have used the national flag in their symbols. Curiosly they are left or right oriented parties, not middle. In the PCI's (Italian Communist Party) symbol there was a national flag mostly hidden by a red sickle-and-hammer flag: I suppose it meant the communist ideology superimposed over the national identity. Today "Rifondazione Comunista" (neo-communist party) still has the red flag but the national one is represented as a half-circle in the bottom of the symbol, therefore the superimposition is not so evident. In the MSI's (neo-fascist party) symbol there was a green-white-red flame. PLI (Italian Liberal Party) directly used the national flag with the three letters P L I over the three strips. Both of them are conservative parties: they used national flag and colors to emphasize patriotism. In fact in Italian culture patriotism is considered a conservative idea.
Giuseppe Bottasini


Overview

The current system of political parties in Italy is complicated due to the great number of parties, their frequent fissions and fusions and name changes, and the electoral system urging the parties to form bigger coalitions and sub-coalitions for the elections. I will try to give an overview of the current (2001/2002) system of parties and coalitions.
There are basically five groups of parties in Italy:
1. The parties that came together to form the right-wing coalition "Casa delle Libertą" for the 2001 elections.
2. The parties that came together to form the left-wing coalition "L'Ulivo" for the 2001 elections.
3. The "Rifondazione Comunista" (Communist Refoundation).
4. Regionalist parties.
5. Other parties.

1. "Casa delle Libertą" (House of the liberties) coalition This currently joins together five parties or sub-coalitions:
1.1. FI ("Forza Italia" = Go, Italy)
1.2. AN ("Alleanza Nazionale" = National Alliance)
1.3. "Lega Nord" (Northern League)
1.4. UDC ("Unione Democristiana e di Centro" = Christian-Democratic Union and of Center) sub-coalition, a.k.a "Biancofiore" The UDC is a sub-coalition of the "Casa delle Libertą" joining together parties claiming heritage of the old DC ("Democrazia Cristiana" = Christian Democracy). The more left-wing fission products of the DC belong to "L'Ulivo", sub-coalition "Margherita" (see below 2.2)
1.4.1. CCD ("Centro Cristiano Democratico" = Christian Democratic Center)
1.4.2. CDU ("Cristiani Democratici Uniti" = United Christian Democrats).
1.4.3. DE ("Democrazia Europea" = European Democracy)
1.4.4. PDC ("Partito Democratico Cristiano" = Christian Democratic Party)
1.5. NPSI or Nuovo PSI ("Nuovo Partito Socialista Italiano" = New Italian Socialist Party).

2. "L'Ulivo" (Olive tree) coalition This currently joins together four parties and sub-coalitions. After the 2001 election the Girasole sub-coalition split into its constituents, the SDI and the Verdi; recently several deputies of the UDEUR left the Margherita group to form an own parliamentary group of the UDEUR.
2.1. DS ("Democratici di Sinistra" = Democrats of the Left)
2.2. "Margherita" ("Democrazia č libertą - La Margherita" = "Democracy is Freedom - The White Ox-Eye). The Margherita is a sub-coalition of the "L'Ulivo" coalition joining together parties claiming heritage of the old DC ("Democrazia Cristiana" = Christian Democracy). The more right-wing fission products of the DC belong to "Casa delle Libertą", sub-coalition "UDC" (see above 1.4)
2.2.1. PPI ("Partito Populare Italiano" = Italian People's Party)
2.2.2. Democratici ("Democrats")
2.2.3. "Rinnovamento Italiano" (Italian Renewal), a.k.a. Liste Dini
2.2.4. UDEUR ("Unione Democratici per l'Europa" = Union Democrats for Europe)
2.3. "Girasole" (Sunflower) sub-coalition
2.3.1. Verdi ("Federazione dei Verdi" = Federation of the Greens)
2.3.2. SDI ("Socialisti Democratici Italiani" = Italian Democratic Socialists)
2.4. PdCI ("Partito dei Comunisti Italiani" = Party of the Italian Communists), a.k.a. Comunisti Italiani

3. "Rifondazione Comunista" (Communist Refoundation)

4. Regionalist parties
4.1. SVP ("Südtiroler Volkspartei" = South Tyrolian People's Party)
4.2. "Union Valdōtaine" (Aosta Valley Union)
4.3. "Partito Sardo d'Azione" (Sardinian Action Party)
4.4. "Fronte Nazionale Siciliano Sicilia Indipendente" (Sicilian National Front "Independent Sicily")
4.5. "Autonomisti Trentini" (Trentine Autonomists)
4.6. "Fronte Giuliano" (Julian Front)
4.7. "Liga dei Veneti" (League of the Venetians)
4.8. "Movimento per l'Autonomia della Romagna" (Movement for the Autonomy of the Romagna)
4.9. "Lega per l'autonomia lombarda" (League for the Lombardian Autonomy)
4.10. Lega Sud Ausonia (Southern League Ausonia)
4.11. "Lega Sannitica" (Samnite League)
4.12. "Liga Fronte Veneto" (League Front Veneto)

5. Other parties
5.1. Left-wing
5.1.1. PSDI ("Partito dei Socialdemocratici Italiani" = Party of the Italian Social Democrats)
5.1.2. "Radicali di Sinistra" (Radicals of the Left)
5.1.3. "Partito della Rifondazione Socialista" (Party of the Socialist Refoundation)
5.1.4. PU ("Partito Umanista Italiano" = Italian Humanist Party)
5.1.5. PUDI ("Partito Umanista Democratico Italiano" = Italian Democratic Humanist Party)
5.1.6. PMLI ("Partito Marxista-Leninista Italiana" =Italian Marxist-Leninist Party)
5.2. Center
5.2.1. "Partito Liberale" (Liberal Party)
5.2.2. PRI ("Partito Repubblicano Italiano" = Italian Republican Party)
5.2.3. F.d.L. ("Federazione dei Liberali" = Federation of the Liberals)
5.2.4. "Radicali Italiani" (Italian Radicals), a.k.a. "Partito Radicale" or "Lista Emma Bonino" or "Lista Pannella")
5.2.5. "Lista di Pietro - Italia dei Valori" (List di Pietro - Italy of the Values)
5.2.6. "Partito Pensionati" (Pensionaries' Party)
5.2.7. "Verdi Federalisti" (Federalist Greens)
5.3. Right-wing
5.3.1. MSFT ("Movimento Sociale Fiamma Tricolore"= Social Movement Tricolour Flame)
5.3.2. "Movimento Italia Sociale" (Movement Social Italy)
5.3.3. "Fronte Sociale Nazionale" (National Social Front)
5.3.4. "Forza Nuova" (New Force)

Main sources:
- [fwa02], and earlier editions of it
- website of the "Camera dei Deputati", the lower house of the Parliament at <www.camera.it>
- website of the "Senato", the upper house of the Parliament at <www.senato.it>
- websites of the different parties (will be cited with the more detailed discussion of the party)
Marcus Schmöger, 16 July 2002

Additional sources I use for describing the Italian parties (history and programmatics):
-<www.riccati.it/ita_rep>
- <www.iic-berlino.de>
- <www.grandinotizie.it>
- <www.cronologia.it>
- <www.pericles.it>
- <guide.supereva.it/partiti>
- Paolo Carusi (2001) I partiti politici italiani dall'Unitą ad oggi. Roma (Edizioni Studium).
- Simona Colarizi (1996) Storia dei partiti nell'Italia repubblicana. Roma (Editori Laterza).
- Girogio Galli (1994) I partiti politici in Italia, 1944-1994. Torino (UTET Libreria).
- A page with all the election emblems of the 2001 election <cedweb.mininterno.it:8890>
- Election results 2001: <cedweb.mininterno.it:8890/camera/B000000.htm>,<C000000.htm> and <senato/S000000.htm>.
Marcus Schmöger, 27 July 2002


Anarchic Communists' Federation (Federazione dei Communisti Anarchici)


by Antonio Martins, 8 July 1999

This is the flag of the Federazione dei Communisti Anarchici (Anarchic Communists' Federation), reported by Dov Gutterman, from: <www.pandora.it/fdca> .Fairily usual anarchist red over black diagonal, with yellow serif letters "FdCA" parallel to the partition.
Antonio Martins, 8 July 1999


Christian Democratic Centre (CCD - Centro Cristiano Democratico)


by Marcus Schmöger, 12 July 2002

CCD ("Centro Cristiano Democratico" = Christian Democratic Center <www.ccd.it>) - When the DC renamed itself in January 1994 into PPI the right wing of the party (under Pierferdinando Casini) split off as CCD, and joined the election coalition of Berlusconi (then named Polo della libertą e del buon governo). Again for the 1996 and the 2001 elections the CCD joined the respective center-right coalitions led by Berlusconi (together with the CDU). The current leader is Marco Follini.
The logo shows - beside the name and abbreviation of the party - a white sail on blue, the sail containing stripes in the national colours and a blue escutcheon with white cross. The logo at <www.ccd.it/ccdsx_file/ccdlogo.jpg>. The flag is basically a "banner-of-arms" of the logo. It can be bought at <www.ccd.it/gadget.htm> for 25000 LIT (about 13 EURO). Fotos of the flag at <www.ccd.it/lombardia/img/1.gif>, <2.gif>, <3.gif>, <4.gif> and other photos in this site.
Marcus Schmöger, 7 August 2002


Christian Democracy (La Democrazia Cristiana)


by Guillermo Tell Aveledo, 12 August 2000


by Guillermo Tell Aveledo, 12 August 2000

As far as I know the flag that was used was the italian tricolor with the emblem in center .Also I have reported the flag with logo on white background and also in light blue backgorund. Currently exist at least three parties issus from the old La Democrazia Cristiana
Jaume Olle, 15 September 1998

The once-mighty Italian Christian Democrats - An Italian tricolori with the crossed shield symbol of the DC, with the word LIBERTAS in white on the horizontal arm of the red cross above the withe shield. I've found it those two versions at some DC books that I have at home
Guillermo Tell Aveledo, 12 August 2000

the "Democrazia Cristiana" ( has split in several parts (mainly the PPI, the CCD, the CDU)
Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002


Christian Democratic Party (Partito Democratico Cristiano)


by Marcus Schmöger, 15 July 2002

Logo of PDC ("Partito Democratico Cristiano"). No flag found. PDC belongs to the right-center coalition House of the Liberties (Casa delle Libertą) led by prime minister Berlusconi.
Marcus Schmöger, 15 July 2002

PDC ("Partito Democratico Cristiano" = Christian Democratic Party <www.partitodemocraticocristiano.it>) - The PDC is another small christian-democratic party under the leadership of Clelio Darida. It now seems to be part of the "Casa delle Libertą" (as the logo appears on their website <www.casadelleliberta.net> ), although it had not taken part in the parliamentary elections in 2001.
I have not found any flag. The logo shows - beside the name of the party - 12 golden stars in a circle and an escutcheon, bordered in the national colours, with the inscription "Difendi la tua libertą" (defend your liberty). The logo at <cedweb.mininterno.it:8890>.
Marcus Schmöger, 7 August 2002


Christian-Democratic Union and of Center (UDC - Unione Democristiana e di Centro)


by Marcus Schmöger, 12 July 2002


by Marcus Schmöger, 7 August 2002

Logo of UDC (Unione Democristiana e di Centro), the coalition of several christian-democratic parties (especially CDU and CCD); no flag found.
Marcus Schmöger, 12 July 2002

UDC ("Unione Democristiana e di Centro" = Christian-Democratic Union and of Center), formerly "Biancofiore" (Whiteflower). Originally founded as "Biancofiore" (Whiteflower), the UDC is a sub-coalition of the "Casa delle Libertą" joining together parties claiming heritage of the old DC ("Democrazia Cristiana" = Christian Democracy). The more left-wing fission products of the DC belong to "L'Ulivo", sub-coalition "Margherita". The UDC (indeed only the CCD and the CDU) currently holds 40 out of 630 seats in the Camera dei Deputati and 29 out of 325 in the Senato. In the European Parliament the CCD and CDU deputies belong to the European People's Party (Christian Democrats).
The logo brings together the symbols of the participating parties: in one version only the symbols of the CCD and the CDU, in another version including the symbols of the DE as well. The first variant of the logo can be found at
<cedweb.mininterno.it:8890>. The other variant at <www.democraziaeuropea.it>.
Marcus Schmöger, 7 August 2002


Communist Party (Partito Comunista Italiana)


by Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002

Yesterday I saw a flag that is unknown to me. The flag was used by the Italian Communist Party in '48. It is a typical communist red flag with a device in the canton composed of the S&H and the initials P.C.I. below, all in gold. Horizontally centered and vertically shifted to the bottom, was the name of the local organization of the party, also in golden capitals. How official was this? And how was the flag of the party itself? The same just with the stuff in the canton?
Jorge Candeias, 20 January 1999

The old PCI (Partito Comunista Italiana = Italian Communist Party) underwent several fissions and renamings in the last 11 years. The flag of the old PCI showed the logo on a red field. The logo of the PCI was a white circle with the inscription "P.C.I." (in black) under a red flag (with yellow star, hammer & sickle) partially covering the national flag.
Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002

See also:
- Democras of the Left (Democratici di Sinistra)
- Unitarian Communists (Comunisti Unitari)
- Communist Refoundation Party (Partito della Rifondazione Comunista)


Communist Refoundation Party (Partito della Rifondazione Comunista)


by Marcus Schmöger, 29 June 2002

There is a photo at <www.looksmart.com>.
Ole Andersen, 27 September 2000

At the 1st May demonstrations in Munich there are also always political parties and groups from foreign countries including Italy.
Flag of RC (Rifondazione Comunista = Communist Refoundation) - The more radical fraction of the former PCI split off from the PDS to found the RC. The party sometimes supported left-coalition governments, but the cooperation was always difficult. Two groups left the RC consecutively, as they wanted a better cooperation with the government: First (in 1996?) the Comunisti Unitari (Unitarian Communists), that joined DS in 1998; second (1998) the PdCI (Partito dei Comunisti Italiani = Party of Italian Communists), that is still an independent party in the L'Ulivo coalition. The symbol of the RC is a white circle with a red flag with yellow hammer&sickle in the center; at the top the black inscription "PARTITO COMUNISTA", at the bottom "RIFONDAZIONE"; on the left a green, on the right a red panel. The flag is red with the symbol in the center.
Sources:
- own observations at the 1st May 2001 and 2002 demos in Munich
- website of RC at <www.rifondazione.it>
Marcus Schmöger, 29 June 2002

The minor fraction of the old Communist Party (Partito dei Comunisti Italiani) split off from the PDS (Democratic Party of the Left - Partito Democratico della Sinistra)) and founded a new communist party, the RC (Rifondazione Comunista = Communist Refoundation). In 1999, the RC introduced a new logo, that also appears on the flags (on a red background). Two groups split off from the RC consecutively: The first (in 1995) were the "Comunisti Unitari" (Unitarian Communists) and The second fission of the RC occurred in 1998: another more moderate group founded the PdCI ("Partito dei Comunisti Italiani" = Party of Italian Communists).
Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002

Previous Flag

by Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002

Due to the divisions of the communist in Italy, the flag have suffered numerous changes and this one is no longer in use.
M.V. Blanes, 27 September 2000

The minor fraction of the old Communist Party (Partito dei Comunisti Italiani) split off from the PDS (Democratic Party of the Left - Partito Democratico della Sinistra)) and founded a new communist party, the RC (Rifondazione Comunista = Communist Refoundation). The first logo showed (on a white circle) a red flag with yellow star, yellow hammer & sickle; at the top in a semi-circle the inscription "PARTITO COMUNISTA", at the bottom a semi-circle in the national colours. The flags showed this logo (in different sizes) in the center of a red field. Although obsolete, these flags have been in widespread use even in 2001.
Marcus Schmöger, 2 August 2002

For other flags used by this party, see PdCI


Cowboy Protest Flag


by Pier Paolo Lugli, 15 January 1998

This is a flag flown by Italian cowboys during their complaint campaign against the government. It depicts the black and white cow smiling at the officers... It is usually placed amid a white flag in various sizes. Often it extends close to the borders facing at the hoist.
Pier Paolo Lugli, 15 January 1998


Part II