Free and Equal (Italy)

Since the 2013 leadership election of the Democratic Party (PD), in which Matteo Renzi (a centrist) was elected secretary, the party was riven by an internal struggle between Renzi's large majority (composed of renziani, assorted centrists and moderate social democrats) and the left-wing factions which were very critical of Renzi, his government (2014–2016) and his proposed constitutional reform, which was finally voted down in a constitutional referendum in December 2016.

After the splits of Possible (Pos.) and Future to the Left (FaS), Enrico Rossi (leader of the Democratic Socialists faction and President of Tuscany) and Roberto Speranza (leader of Reformist Area and former PD leader in the Chamber of Deputies) became the leaders of the PD's internal left. They were backed by former DS and PD leaders Massimo D'Alema, Pier Luigi Bersani and Guglielmo Epifani. Rossi and Speranza criticised Renzi on many of his policies and were initially joined by Michele Emiliano, President of Apulia.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2017/02/15/minoranza-pd-speranza-emiliano-rossi_n_14766660.html|title=La contro-assemblea di Emiliano, Rossi e Speranza: "Insieme sabato a Roma". La minoranza andrà da Renzi domenica|date=15 February 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/02/18/news/pd_scissione_renzi_minoranza-158595459|title=Pd, la minoranza sfida Renzi. Guerini ribatte: "Ultimatum non ricevibili"|date=18 February 2017}} In February 2017, the dissidents (except Emiliano, who stayed in the PD and would unsuccessfully challenge Renzi in the upcoming 2017 leadership election), and a group of SI splinters led by Arturo Scotto (a former DS member too) launched the Article 1 – Democratic and Progressive Movement (MDP), a month after the merger of Left Ecology Freedom (SEL), FaS and minor groups into Italian Left (SI).[https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/02/17/sinistra-italiana-nasce-gia-scissa-fratoianni-verso-lincoronazione-da-leader-lalleanza-con-renzi-non-e-inevitabile/3398185 "Sinistra Italiana nasce scissa, Fratoianni verso l'incoronazione da leader: "Con Renzi porte chiuse"].[https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/rimini/politica/sinistra-italiana-congresso-1.2903858 "Sinistra Italiana, a Rimini il battesimo del nuovo partito"].[https://www.ilfoglio.it/politica/2017/12/06/news/la-sinistra-dalla-questione-morale-a-quella-nominale-167398 "La sinistra dalla questione morale a quella nominale"].

Soon after the foundation of the MDP, Roberto Speranza (MDP coordinator), Nicola Fratoianni (SI secretary) and Giuseppe Civati (Pos. secretary) discussed the opportunity of forming a left-wing coalition as an alternative to the centre-left led by the PD, the centre-right and the Five Star Movement (M5S).{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2017/11/11/ricomincio-da-tre-civati-fratoianni-e-speranza-convocano-per-il-2-dicembre-lassemblea-della-nuova-sinistra_a_23274011/|title=RICOMINCIO DA TRE|date=11 November 2017}}

In the 2017 Sicilian regional election, the three left-wing parties, along with the Communist Refoundation Party, other parties and groups, ran in a joint list named One Hundred Steps for Sicily with Claudio Fava for President. Fava won 6.2% of the vote, the list 5.2% and only Fava was elected deputy in the Regional Assembly.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cataniatoday.it/politica/elezioni/regionali-sicilia-2017/fava-risultati-staff-6-novembre-2017.html|title=Dal comitato di Fava: "Soddisfazione per il superamento della soglia di sbarramento del 5%"|website=CataniaToday}}

During a convention in Rome on 3 December 2017, the MDP–SI–Pos alliance was officially established as Free and Equal (LeU) and Pietro Grasso, President of the Senate and former anti-Mafia prosecutor, was appointed leader and candidate for Prime Minister in the 2018 general election.{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2017/12/03/sinistra-allatlantico-nasce-lista-applauso-accoglie-grasso_bfa05cc2-c60d-4199-a483-be551f50c334.html|title=Liberi e uguali, Grasso: 'Ecco la nuova sinistra' - Politica|date=3 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/12/03/news/bersani_destra_regressiva_e_stata_sottovalutata_dobbiamo_tenere_alta_bandiera_dei_nostri_valori_-182874477|title=Sinistra, Grasso lancia 'Liberi e uguali': "Pd mi ha offerto incarichi ma i calcoli non fanno per me"|date=3 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ilpost.it/2017/12/03/pietro-grasso-candidato|title=Pietro Grasso sarà il leader della sinistra - Il Post|date=3 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://ilmanifesto.it/nasce-liberi-e-uguali-grasso-si-presenta-bene|title=il manifesto|website=ilmanifesto.it|date=3 December 2017}} A few weeks later, also Laura Boldrini, President of the Chamber of Deputies (who had been elected as an independent of SEL in 2013), joined LeU.{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/17_dicembre_22/boldrini-campo-politiche-continuero-liberi-uguali-3b20d788-e732-11e7-9bc3-c44cfbe0d3dd.shtml|title=Boldrini al fianco di Grasso in Liberi e Uguali: "Saremo il nuovo centrosinistra" Video|first=Redazione|last=Politica|date=22 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/12/22/news/boldrini_annuncia_la_sua_candidatura_con_liberi_e_uguali_-184923466|title=Boldrini annuncia la sua candidatura con "Liberi e uguali": "E' il momento di scegliere la strada"|date=22 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2017/12/22/laura-boldrini-segue-pietro-grasso-in-liberi-e-uguali_a_23315282|title=Il partito dei presidenti|date=22 December 2017|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-date=25 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125174801/http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2017/12/22/laura-boldrini-segue-pietro-grasso-in-liberi-e-uguali_a_23315282/|url-status=dead}} Another high-profile adherent was Rossella Muroni, who had been the president of Legambiente up to then.[http://www.ansa.it/canale_ambiente/notizie/istituzioni/2017/12/19/leurossella-muroni-lascia-legambiente-per-affiancare-grasso_eb8cc2b4-a0a0-44e1-b783-1e203a6ee3a4.html "LeU: Rossella Muroni lascia Legambiente per affiancare Grasso"]. In January, LeU was joined also by the Greens of South Tyrol.[https://www.buongiornosuedtirol.it/2018/01/bolzano-i-verdi-dellalto-adige-sudtirol-correranno-con-leu-ecco-gli-otto-candidati "Bolzano. I Verdi dell'Alto Adige Südtirol correranno con LeU, ecco gli otto candidati"].[https://ilmanifesto.it/in-alto-adige-i-verdi-hanno-deciso-di-entrare-in-liberi-e-uguali/ "In Alto Adige i Verdi hanno deciso di entrare in Liberi e Uguali"].

In January 2018, shortly before the election, some internal conflict started, with Grasso accused to be uncharismatic and uninfluential on alliance politics.{{cite news|url=https://www.linkiesta.it/it/article/2018/01/10/altro-che-libero-e-uguale-grasso-e-gia-allangolo-e-dalema-e-bersani-fa/36746/|title=Altro che libero e uguale: Grasso è già all'angolo. E D'Alema e Bersani fanno le liste|newspaper=Linkiesta|date=10 January 2018}}

In March, LeU obtained 3.4% of the vote in the general election, well below expectations{{Cite web|url=https://www.iltempo.it/politica/2017/12/03/news/grasso-lancia-la-cosa-rossa-d-alema-puntiamo-al-10-1039176/|title=Grasso lancia la "Cosa rossa". D'Alema: "Puntiamo al 10%""|website=www.iltempo.it}}[https://www.agi.it/breakingnews/leu_d_alema_puntiamo_a_risultato_a_due_cifre_niente_inciuci-3395193/news/2018-01-21 LeU, D'Alema: "Puntiamo a risultato a due cifre, niente inciuci"]. Agi.it. 21 January 2018. and opinion polls, electing 14 deputies and 4 senators.{{cite web|url=http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/camera/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniCI|title=Eligendo: Camera|website=elezioni.interno.gov.it|language=it|date=4 March 2018|access-date=10 March 2018|archive-date=11 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311173510/http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/camera/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniCI|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/senato/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniSI|title=Eligendo: Senato|website=elezioni.interno.gov.it|language=it|date=4 March 2018|access-date=10 March 2018|archive-date=9 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309012532/http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/senato/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniSI|url-status=dead}}

In May, LeU launched a constituent assembly in Rome with the participation of the MDP, SI and Possible, which agreed on the creation of a party with a single structure and an internal voting system on political issues.{{cite news|last=Cangemi|first=Annalisa|url=https://www.fanpage.it/leu-verso-l-assemblea-nazionale-il-26-maggio-mdp-facciamo-un-partito-unico/|title=LeU verso l'assemblea nazionale il 26 maggio. Mdp: "Facciamo un partito unico"|newspaper=Fanpage.it|date=15 May 2018}} In June, the national committee of LeU fixed the founding congress for December.{{cite news|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/notiziario/leu_congresso_fondativo_entro_15_dicembre-67708.html?refresh_cens|title=Leu: congresso fondativo entro 15 dicembre|editor=affaritaliani.it|date=13 June 2018}} The following day, Beatrice Brignone, who had replaced Civati as secretary of Possible, announced the departure of her party from the alliance.{{cite web|url=https://www.possibile.com/sinistra-brignone-possibile-fuori-da-partito-unico-buon-lavoro-a-costituente-leu/|title=Sinistra, Brignone: Possibile fuori da partito unico, buon lavoro a costituente Leu|website=Possibile|date=14 June 2018}}

More internal conflicts broke out between the two remaining parties (MDP and SI) during the summer, especially about political affiliations for the upcoming 2019 European Parliament election and possible alliance with the PD.{{cite news|last=Preziosi|first=Daniela|url=https://ilmanifesto.it/lestate-dello-scontento-di-leu/|title=L'estate dello scontento di Leu|editor=il Manifesto|date=12 August 2018}} Between October and December, LeU was successively abandoned by SI[http://www.dire.it/28-10-2018/257839-goodbye-leu-sinistra-italiana-scarica-mdp-e-guarda-a-de-magistris "'Goodbye LeU': Sinistra Italiana scarica Mdp e guarda a De Magistris"].[https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/11/15/news/leu_esperienza_finita-211660808 "Leu, esperienza finita. Mdp e Sinistra italiana si lasciano. Speranza: "Ora una sinistra di governo"]. and the MDP (focused on the formation of a new "red-green" party)[https://articolo1mdp.it/rassegna-stampa/una-forza-rosso-verde-per-garantire-lalternativa-alla-nuova-destra "Una forza rosso-verde per garantire l'alternativa alla nuova destra"].[https://ilmanifesto.it/mdp-si-fa-rosso-verde-il-16-dicembre-a-roma/ "Mdp si fa rosso-verde, il 16 dicembre a Roma"].[https://www.infodata.ilsole24ore.com/2018/11/14/articolo-1-mdp-esce-da-liberi-e-uguali-le-scissioni-della-sinistra-e-la-meccanica-quantistica "Mdp esce da Liberi e Uguali. Le scissioni, la sinistra e la meccanica quantistica"]. as well as by high-profile members like Boldrini[https://www.ilmessaggero.it/politica/boldrini_rompe_con_leu-4118300.html "Boldrini rompe con Leu: «Progetto senza futuro», la replica: «Trattati come autobus elettorale»"]. and Muroni.

In January 2019, SI returned into LeU's fold and joined forces with LeU individual members, led by Francesco Laforgia and deputy Luca Pastorino (dissident members of MDP and Possible, respectively), who had formed an association named #Per i molti (For the many), which was later transformed into ÈViva party.[https://www.gonews.it/2019/01/24/liberi-uguali-si-riunisce-alla/ "Liberi e Uguali si riunisce alla Casa del Popolo di San Bartolo a Cintoia"][https://noisiamoliberieuguali.wordpress.com/2019/01/31/costituita-associazione-per-nascita-partito-di-sinistra "Costituita associazione per nascita partito di sinistra"].[https://it.blastingnews.com/politica/2019/02/sinistra-a-100-giorni-dalle-europee-si-provano-a-definire-liste-e-alleanze-002843067.html "Sinistra, a 100 giorni dalle Europee si provano a definire liste e alleanze"]. In April the two groups, along with the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC) and minor parties, formed The Left, a joint list inspired by the Party of the European Left (PEL).{{Cite web|url=http://www.rifondazione.it/primapagina/?p=37339|title=Il manifesto – Acerbo: "Basta rifugiarsi nel Pd, ora Sinistra italiana stia con noi"}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2019/04/03/news/europee_la_sinistra_nome_erede_lista_tsipras_del_2014-223173991/|title=Europee, vince "La Sinistra": scelto online il nome degli eredi della lista Tsipras|date=3 April 2019|website=Repubblica.it}}{{Cite web|url=https://ilmanifesto.it/la-sinistra-ora-in-cerca-di-donne-per-le-europee|title = La sinistra» ora in cerca di donne per le europee|date = 4 April 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.larampa.it/2019/04/06/europee-laforgia-pastorino-adesione-alla-lista-la-sinistra/|title=Europee, Laforgia-Pastorino: "Adesione alla lista La Sinistra"|date=6 April 2019}} Contextually, the MDP, which was renamed simply "Article One" (Art.1), decided to run with the PD, while Possible joined the FdV-led Green Europe (EV).

In August 2019, tensions grew within the coalition supporting the Giuseppe Conte's first government, leading to the issuing of a motion of no-confidence by the League.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/world/europe/italy-pm-giuseppe-conte-resign.html|title=Italy's Government Collapses, Turning Chaos Into Crisis|first=Jason|last=Horowitz|newspaper=The New York Times|date=20 August 2019}} During the following government crisis, the national board of the PD officially opened to the possibility of forming a new cabinet in a coalition with the M5S,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/20/italian-pm-expected-resign-giuseppe-conte|title=Italian PM resigns with attack on 'opportunist' Salvini|first=Angela|last=Giuffrida|newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 August 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}} based on pro-Europeanism, green economy, sustainable development, fight against economic inequality and a new immigration policy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2019/08/21/news/governo_il_testo_integrale_della_relazione_di_zingaretti_alla_direzione_pd-234041294/|title=Governo, Zingaretti: "I 5 punti per trattare con il M5S. No accordicchi, governo di svolta"|date=21 August 2019|website=Repubblica.it}} The party also accepted that Conte might continue at the head of a new government,{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/conte-wins-crucial-support-for-new-italian-govt-coalition/2019/08/28/a85203c4-c99c-11e9-9615-8f1a32962e04_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828200930/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/conte-wins-crucial-support-for-new-italian-govt-coalition/2019/08/28/a85203c4-c99c-11e9-9615-8f1a32962e04_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-08-28|title=Conte wins crucial support for new Italian govt coalition|newspaper=Washington Post}} and on 29 August President Mattarella formally invested Conte to do so.{{cite web |title=Il Presidente Mattarella ha conferito l'incarico al Prof. Conte di formare il Governo |url=https://www.quirinale.it/elementi/35484 |website=Quirinale |access-date=29 August 2019 |language=it}} The LeU groups had previously already announced their possible support to Conte's second government,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2019/08/19/grasso-possibile-intesa-m5s-pd-leu_301fb033-f640-4d0f-bba3-ea37eb594c9b.html|title=Grasso, possibile intesa M5s-Pd-Leu - Ultima Ora|date=August 19, 2019|website=Agenzia ANSA}} which was finally unveiled in September with the appointment of Speranza as Minister of Health.[https://www.adnkronos.com/salute/sanita/2019/09/04/roberto-speranza-nuovo-ministro-della-salute_AE3FVNIbPSZAvnMakL3pMO.html Roberto Speranza nuovo ministro della salute]

Following Conte's resignation in January 2021 and the resulting government crisis, LeU joined Mario Draghi's national unity government, with Speranza keeping his ministerial role. The new government provoked shifts within the group. Italian Left chose not to support Draghi,{{cite news |title=Governo Draghi, assemblea di Sinistra Italiana: voto contro la fiducia. Ma De Petris e Palazzotto non condividono: "Noi siamo per il sì" |url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/02/14/news/governo_draghi_sinistra_italiana_voto_contro_fiducia-287591560/ |access-date=14 February 2021 |agency=La Repubblica |date=14 February 2021 |language=Italian}} was deserted by one deputy (Erasmo Palazzotto, who voted in favour and left the party){{Cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2021/02/17/erasmo-palazzotto-lascia-sinistra-italiana-non-e-una-scelta-facile-ma-e-un-errore-politico-non-votare-la-fiducia-a-draghi/6104881|title = Erasmo Palazzotto lascia Sinistra italiana: "E' un errore politico non votare la fiducia a Draghi"|date = 17 February 2021}} and one senator (Loredana De Petris, who voted in favour, but remained a member) and was joined by two formerly independent senators (Paola Nugnes, who had been elected with the Five Star Movement (M5S) and later alighed with the Communist Refoundation Party) and Elena Fattori (another former Five Star).{{cite news |title=Senato, le ex-grilline Paola Nugnes ed Elena Fattori aderiscono a Sinistra Italiana |url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/02/26/news/paola_nugnes_elena_fattori_sinistra_italiana-289322649/ |access-date=3 March 2021 |agency=La Repubblica |date=26 February 2021 |language=Italian}} Additionally, Rossella Muroni (Green Italia) left the group in order to establish a sub-group of the Federation of the Greens within the Mixed Group instead.{{cite news |title=Rossella Muroni: "Lascio Leu e rifondo i Verdi in Parlamento"|url=https://rep.repubblica.it/ws/detail/intervista/2021/03/02/news/rossella_muroni_lascio_leu_vado_nel_misto-289948181/ |access-date=3 March 2021 |agency=La Repubblica |language=Italian}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ansa.it/canale_ambiente/notizie/istituzioni/2021/03/03/cameramuroni-lascia-leu-e-passa-a-mistoserve-discontinuita_978fcfd6-53cc-4b9c-9430-0d8c1225d605.html|title = Camera, Muroni lascia Leu e passa al Misto per far rinascere i Verdi - Ambiente & Energia|date = 3 March 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2021/03/03/muroni-fioramonti-e-fusacchia-riportano-i-verdi-in-parlamento-bonelli-cediamo-il-simbolo-altri-deputati-in-arrivo/6120459|title=Muroni, Fioramonti e Fusacchia riportano i Verdi in Parlamento. Bonelli: "Cediamo il simbolo, altri deputati in arrivo"|date=3 March 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://europaverde.it/2021/03/03/muroni-rifondo-i-verdi-in-parlamento|title = Muroni "Leu non ha fatto il salto. Lascio e rifondo i Verdi in Parlamento"|date = 3 March 2021}} In July, Devis Dori, another splinter from the M5S, briefly joined LeU in the Chamber,{{cite news |title=M5S, altro addio alla Camera: deputato Dori passa a Leu |url=https://www.adnkronos.com/m5s-altro-addio-alla-camera-deputato-dori-passa-a-leu_26bHX50ZeHR39DkkqLPVjT |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=Adnkronos |date=10 July 2021 |language=Italian}} as, in February 2022, he would join EV instead.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bergamonews.it/2022/02/17/il-deputato-bergamasco-dori-lascia-leu-per-europa-verde/495158|title = Il deputato bergamasco Dori lascia Leu per Europa Verde|date = 17 February 2022}} In March 2022, also Palazzotto left LeU,{{Cite web|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2022/03/13/news/palazzotto_lascia_leu_entra_pd_no_equidistanza_si_diplomazia-341175623|title = Palazzotto: "Lascio Leu e entro nel Pd, no all'equidistanza, sì alla diplomazia"|date = 12 March 2022}} leaving it with ten deputies.

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