Moderates and Populars

{{Infobox political party

|name = Moderates and Populars

|native_name = Moderati e Popolari

|logo =

|leader =

|leader1_title = President

|leader1_name = Antonio Buccoliero

|leader2_title = Secretary

|leader2_name = Nicola Canonico

|foundation = 2010

|dissolution = c.2015

|split =

|merged =

|headquarters = Via Martiri d’Otranto 78/C, Bari

|newspaper =

|membership_year =

|membership =

|ideology = Regionalism

|position = Centre

|national =

|international =

|european =

|europarl =

|seats1_title = Chamber of Deputies

|seats1 =

|seats2_title = Senate

|seats2 =

|seats3_title =

|seats3 =

|website =

|colorcode = yellow

|country = Italy

}}

Moderates and Populars ({{langx|it|Moderati e Popolari}}, MeP) was a regionalist-centrist political party in Italy active in Apulia.

Soon after the 2010 regional election three disgruntled regional councillors coming from three different parties joined forces and launched their own party. These were Giacomo Olivieri (elected with Italy of Values), Nicola Canonico (Democratic Party) and Antonio Buccoliero (Apulians for Palese).[http://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/napoli/notizie/politica/2010/21-maggio-2010/troppi-assessori-regionali-esterni-consiglio-nasce-moderati-popolari-1703059517767.shtml Troppi assessori regionali esterni e in Consiglio nasce «Moderati e Popolari» – Corriere del Mezzogiorno][http://www.blitzquotidiano.it/politica-italiana/regione-puglia-moderati-popolari-gruppo-consiglio-386649/ Regione Puglia: Moderati e Popolari, nuovo gruppo "trasversale" in Consiglio | Blitz quotidiano]

In January 2013 Olivieri resigned from the Regional Council and was replaced by Giacinto Forte (ex-Italy of Values, who joined the MeP),[http://www.newspuglia.it/old/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=199:politica-taranto&id=11335:consigliere-regione-puglia-forte-passa-ai-moderati-e-popolari&Itemid=13 Politica Taranto – Consigliere Regione Puglia Forte passa ai 'Moderati e popolari'] while in March the party was joined also by Antonio Martucci (ex-Italy of Values).{{Cite web |url=http://www.iltaccoditalia.info/sito/index-a.asp?id=23471 |title=Quattro rappresentanti. MeP più forte in Consiglio - Il tacco d'Italia - News dal Salento, quotidiano online d'informazione salentina |access-date=2014-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152803/http://www.iltaccoditalia.info/sito/index-a.asp?id=23471 |archive-date=2014-07-14 |url-status=dead }} At the national level both Olivieri and Forte were members of the Democratic Centre, a centrist party led by Bruno Tabacci,[http://www.pugliadoggi.it/regionepuglia/721-olivieri-consiglio-regionale Giacomo Olivieri lascia il Consiglio regionale. Salto in vista? – Puglia d'oggi] but this changed in March, when Olivieri left both parties and went on to launch Reality Italy.http://www.pinoarlacchi.it/images/stories/files/Addio_Moderati_e_Popolari_nasce_Realt_Italia.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}

In May 2013 the MeP chose to join the centre-right coalition,[http://bari.repubblica.it/dettaglio-news/20:33/4345951 Puglia: gruppo Moderati-Popolari lascia maggioranza | Bari la Repubblica.it]{{Cite web |url=http://www.piazzanews.it/puglia/la-regione/item/7834-per-vendola-tempo-scaduto-lo-ha-detto-chiaramente-antonio-martucci-mep-passa-allopposizione?tmpl=component&print=1 |title=Per Vendola tempo scaduto: lo ha detto chiaramente Antonio Martucci. MeP passa all'opposizione |access-date=2014-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714140842/http://www.piazzanews.it/puglia/la-regione/item/7834-per-vendola-tempo-scaduto-lo-ha-detto-chiaramente-antonio-martucci-mep-passa-allopposizione?tmpl=component&print=1 |archive-date=2014-07-14 |url-status=dead }} but this caused the exit of Buccoliero.