Solidary Democracy

{{Infobox political party

| colorcode = {{party color|Solidary Democracy}}

| name = Solidary Democracy

| native_name = Democrazia Solidale

| logo = Logo Democrazia Solidale DemoS.png

| logo_size = 180px

| leader =

| president =

| leader1_title = Secretary

| leader1_name = Paolo Ciani

| leader2_title = President

| leader2_name = Mario Giro

| foundation = {{start date and age|2014|07|04|df=y}}
{{start date and age|2018|10|06|df=y}} {{small|(re-organisation)}}

| split = Populars for Italy

| headquarters = Via Panfilo Castaldi 9, Rome

| dissolution =

| predecessor =

| youth_wing =

| membership_year =

| membership =

| ideology = Christian left

| position = Centre-left{{cite web | url=https://www.editorialedomani.it/politica/italia/demos-riccardi-letta-conte-centro-renzi-mnbbs5ra | title=Più sociale che social, un altro centro (Non renziano) è possibile }}{{cite web | url=https://coratolive.it/2020/01/16/demos-basta-frammentazioni-il-centrosinistra-converga-su-de-benedittis/ | title=Demos: "Basta frammentazioni, il centrosinistra converga su de Benedittis" - CoratoLive.it | date=16 January 2020 }}

| national = Coalition:
Centre-left coalition
Political party:
{{nowrap|Democratic Party (since 2019)}}

| european =

| international =

| europarl = Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats

| seats1_title = Chamber of Deputies

| seats1 = {{Composition bar|1|400|{{party color|Solidary Democracy}}}} (Within PD-IDP){{efn|Paolo Ciani is a member.}}

| seats2_title = Senate

| seats2 = {{Composition bar|0|200|{{party color|Solidary Democracy}}}}

| seats3_title = European Parliament

| seats3 = {{Composition bar|1|76|{{party color|Solidary Democracy}}}} (Within the PD){{efn|Marco Tarquinio is a member.{{cite web |last1=Fabiani |first1=Martina |title=Elezioni europee 8 e 9 giugno 2024 |url=https://www.democraziasolidale.it/elezioni-europee-8-e-9-giugno-2024/ |website=Democrazia Solidale - DEMOS |access-date=4 May 2024 |language=it-IT |date=27 April 2024}}}}

| seats4_title = Regional Councils

| seats4 = {{Composition bar|3|896|hex={{party color|Solidary Democracy}}}}

| seats5_title =

| seats5 =

| colours = {{Color box|{{party color|Solidary Democracy}}|border=darkgray}} Teal

| website = {{URL|democraziasolidale.it}}

| country = Italy

| footnotes = {{notelist}}

}}

Solidary Democracy ({{langx|it|Democrazia Solidale}}, DemoS) is a Christian-leftist political party in Italy.

The party's early leader, Lorenzo Dellai has described it as a "Christian-social" party.{{cite web |date=2015-10-21 |title=Roma, Democrazia Solidale: Dellai, Interessati a nuova rappresentanza politica |url=http://www.agenparl.com/roma-democrazia-solidale-dellai-interessati-a-nuova-rappresentanza-politica/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418190356/http://www.agenparl.com/roma-democrazia-solidale-dellai-interessati-a-nuova-rappresentanza-politica/ |archive-date=18 April 2016 |access-date=14 August 2018 |website=Agenparl}} DemoS is led by Paolo Ciani. Several party members, including Ciani, hail from the Community of Sant'Egidio.

DemoS maintains solid relations with the Democratic Party. It also had relations with a number of alike minor parties/groups of the Christian left, notably including the Democratic Centre (with which DemoS formed a joint parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies in 2014–2018), the Christian Popular Union{{cite web|url=http://www.democraziasolidale.it/#!Accordo-DemoSUpc-per-cattolicesimo-democratico-/c5g8/42D3F12E-C34E-4581-B726-04788203FAE0|title=demosolidale|website=demosolidale|access-date=14 August 2018}} (active mainly in Sardinia) and the Union for Trentino (Dellai's long-time party in Trentino, of which he was President in 1999–2012).

History

DemoS was formed in July 2014, following the split of the left-wing faction from the Populars for Italy (PpI). The party, led by Lorenzo Dellai, Andrea Olivero, Mario Marazziti, Mario Giro and Lucio Romano, re-affirmed the strategic (not just tactical) alliance with Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party (PD), while the PpI considered it temporary and wanted to restructure the centre-right camp instead. At its start, the party counted eight deputies, two senators, one deputy minister and one undersecretary.{{cite web|url=http://www.formiche.net/2014/07/05/popolari-mauro-olivero-democrazia-solidal/|title=L'ultima bufera tra i Popolari di Mauro: Dellai, Olivero e Giro fondano Democrazia Solidale - Formiche.net|date=5 July 2014|access-date=14 August 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.asca.it/news-Centro__nasce__Demo_S_Democrazia_Solidale___Dellai_Olivero_tra_promotori-1401895.html |title=Centro: Nasce 'Demo.S-Democrazia Solidale', Dellai-Olivero tra promotori - ASCA.it |access-date=13 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714232454/http://www.asca.it/news-Centro__nasce__Demo_S_Democrazia_Solidale___Dellai_Olivero_tra_promotori-1401895.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.formiche.net/2014/07/09/popolari-senza-dellai-olivero-parla-mauro/|title=Così ripartono i Popolari senza Dellai e Olivero. Parla Mauro - Formiche.net|date=9 July 2014|access-date=14 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.formiche.net/2014/07/08/dellai-popolari-pd/|title=Perché puntiamo a un'alleanza con il Pd. Parla Dellai - Formiche.net|date=8 July 2014|access-date=14 August 2018}}

In November 2014, the "For Italy" group in the Chamber welcomed the two deputies of the Democratic Centre (CD).{{cite web|url=http://www.camera.it/leg17/217?idlegislatura=17&idGruppo=2449&idGruppoMisto=&tipoVis=|title=XVII Legislatura - XVII Legislatura - Deputati e Organi Parlamentari - Composizione gruppi Parlamentari|website=www.camera.it|access-date=14 August 2018}} In December, the two senators of DemoS, Olivero and Romano, left the "For Italy" group, which was later disbanded, to join For the Autonomies, a miscellaneous group composed of minor autonomist and/or centre-left parties.{{cite web|url=http://temi.repubblica.it/espresso-open-politix/2014/12/08/olivero-cambia-gruppo-continua-la-diaspora-degli-ex-montiani/|title=Olivero cambia gruppo, continua la diaspora degli ex Montiani|access-date=14 August 2018}} In September a ninth deputy, Maurizio Baradello, joined the party and the parliamentary group;{{Cite web |url=http://sceltacivicapiemonte.it/candidati/candidati-alla-camera-lista-piemonte-1/maurizio-baradello/ |title=Maurizio Baradello - Scelta Civica Piemonte |access-date=18 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063917/http://sceltacivicapiemonte.it/candidati/candidati-alla-camera-lista-piemonte-1/maurizio-baradello/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.lospiffero.com/cantina/politica-addio-vitelli-tira-i-remi-in-barca-22758.html|title=Politica addio, Vitelli tira i remi in barca|access-date=14 August 2018}} Baradello would die in May 2017.{{cite web|url=http://torino.repubblica.it/cronaca/2017/05/09/news/e_morto_baradello_dirigente_del_comune_che_volo_a_tunisi_per_assistere_i_feriti_al_bardo-165034618|title=E' morto Baradello, dirigente del Comune che volò a Tunisi per assistere i feriti al Bardo|date=9 May 2017|access-date=14 August 2018}}

In early 2015, Demos adopted a new symbol,{{Cite web|url=http://www.isimbolidelladiscordia.it/2015/02/la-sfida-eurografica-di-democrazia.html|title=La sfida eurografica di Democrazia solidale}} Dellai was elected president of the party and Paolo Ciani coordinator.

In January 2016, the "For Italy" group changed its name to "Solidary Democracy – Democratic Centre", following a strengthening of the alliance with CD.{{Cite web |date=2017-10-05 |title=Che cos'è Democrazia solidale - Centro democratico |url=https://blog.openpolis.it/2017/10/05/che-cose-democrazia-solidale-centro-democratico/16827 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=OpenBlog |language=it-IT}} In February, Giro, formerly an undersecretary, became deputy minister of Foreign Affairs; Giro was thus one of the party's two deputy ministers, along with Olivero at Agriculture.{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2016/01/28/news/governo_sottosegretari-132243596/|title=Governo, via al rimpasto: 13 nomi nuovi. Torna anche il contestato Gentile|date=28 January 2016|access-date=14 August 2018}}

In June and December 2017, respectively, Fucsia Nissoli{{cite web|url=http://www.politicamentecorretto.com/index.php?news=94437 |title=Fucsia Nissoli Passa A Forza Italia |publisher=politicamentecorretto.com |access-date=14 August 2018}} and Gianluigi Gigli joined Forza Italia (FI) and Energies for Italy (EpI),{{cite web|url=https://agvilvelino.it/article/2017/12/18/gigli-lascio-democrazia-solidale-aderisco-energie-litalia|title=Gigli: lascio Democrazia solidale e aderisco a Energie per l'Italia - AGV|date=18 December 2017|access-date=14 August 2018}} both members of the centre-right coalition. For its part, DemoS was a founding member of the Popular Civic List (CP), a centrist electoral list within the centre-left coalition, along with Popular Alternative (AP), Italy of Values (IdV), the Centrists for Europe (CpE), Italy Is Popular (IP), the Union for Trentino (UpT) and the Christian Popular Union (UPC).{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/12/29/news/nasce_la_lista_centrista_alleata_col_pd_sara_guidata_da_lorenzin-185423728|title=Elezioni, Renzi attacca "l'innaturale alleanza popolari-populisti". Orlando chiede scelte condivise|date=29 December 2017|access-date=14 August 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/12/29/centrosinistra-ce-anche-il-terzo-mini-alleato-del-pd-civica-popolare-guidata-dalla-lorenzin-simbolo-una-margherita/4065143/|title=Centrosinistra, c'è anche il terzo mini-alleato del Pd: Civica Popolare guidata dalla Lorenzin. Simbolo? Una margherita - Il Fatto Quotidiano|date=29 December 2017|work=Il Fatto Quotidiano|access-date=1 January 2018|language=it-IT}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2017-12-29/nasce-civica-popolare-lista-centrista-il-pd-lorenzin-guida--132250.shtml|title=Nasce "Civica Popolare", lista centrista alleata con il Pd: Lorenzin alla guida|access-date=14 August 2018}}

In the 2018 general election, CP obtained a mere 0.5% and no seats; thus, DemoS was excluded from Parliament. Moreover, Dellai was defeated in a single-seat constituency in Trentino.{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/trentino/notizie/2018/03/05/dellai-cede-anomalia-trentina_b6ab9c6d-08a5-4164-b398-18a2746bba75.html|title=Dellai, cede anomalia trentina - Trentino AA/S|date=5 March 2018|access-date=14 August 2018}} However, in the simultaneous 2018 regional election in Lazio, Ciani was elected regional councillor, at the head of a regional list named "Solidary Centre".{{cite web|url=http://www.iltempo.it/politica/2018/03/07/news/promossi-e-bocciati-nel-lazio-ecco-i-nuovi-consiglieri-della-regione-1054285|title=Promossi e bocciati nel Lazio. Ecco i nuovi consiglieri della Regione|access-date=14 August 2018}}

In October 2018, DemoS was re-launched, with the aim of creating a large Christian-leftist movement within the centre-left, at the presence of Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio, and Paolo Gentiloni, a leading Democrat, former Prime Minister and minister of Foreign Affairs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/premium/articoli/ora-arriva-il-partito-di-santegidio|title = Ora arriva il partito di Sant'Egidio}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.avvenire.it/attualita/pagine/nasce-democrazia-solidale-obiettivo-amministrative|title = Scenari. Nasce "Democrazia solidale": Obiettivo amministrative|date = 6 October 2018}}[http://www.farodiroma.it/nasce-democrazia-soldale-gentiloni-e-riccardi-tengono-a-battesimo-il-nuovo-soggetto-politico-paolo-ciani-saremo-la-voce-delle-periferie-di-m-albanesi/ Nasce Democrazia Solidale. Gentiloni e Riccardi tengono a battesimo il nuovo soggetto politico. Paolo Ciani: "saremo la voce delle periferie"]{{Cite web|url=https://www.wienerzeitung.at/nachrichten/europa/europastaaten/994647_Sammlung-italienischer-Linkskatholiken.html|title = Democrazia Solidale - Sammlung italienischer Linkskatholiken| date=8 October 2018 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kathpress.at/goto/meldung/1684768/rom-neue-katholische-partei-mit-santegidio-hilfe-gegruendet|title=Rom: Neue katholische Partei mit Sant'Egidio-Hilfe gegründet}} In the following months, the party was joined by some high-profile people, including Nello Formisano[http://ildubbio.news/ildubbio/2018/10/20/centrosinistra-demos-a-napoli-al-lancio-di-alleanza-solidale Centrosinistra: Demos a Napoli al lancio di Alleanza Solidale] and Pietro Bartolo,[https://palermo.repubblica.it/politica/2019/02/18/news/lampedusa_bartolo_il_medico_dei_migranti_lascia_leu_e_aderisce_a_demos-219449721 Migranti: Bartolo, il medico di Lampedusa, lascia Leu e aderisce a Demos] while Michela Rostan, deputy of Article One, expressed her willingness to represent Demo.S in the Parliament.[https://www.democraziasolidale.it/single-post/2019/03/01/DEMOS-ha-un-suo-portavoce-alla-Camera-dei-Deputati Rostan: "Sarò ben lieta di rappresentare le istanze di Democrazia Solidale in Parlamento"]

In the 2019 European Parliament election, the party ran with the PD{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilfoglio.it/politica/2019/04/25/news/da-tsipras-a-tsipras-il-pd-di-zingaretti-visto-dal-lato-sinistro-251412|title=Da Tsipras a Tsipras, il Pd di Zingaretti visto dal lato sinistro}} resulting in the election Bartolo. In 2022, Beatrice Covassi replaced an outgoing MEP to become the party's second MEP.

In May 2022, the party held its first national congress.{{cite web | url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2022/05/14/news/demos_congresso_roma_centrosinistra_centro-349476797 | title=A sinistra prove di nuovo centro. Demos, il partito di Sant'Egidio si organizza: "In Ucraina l'unica vittoria è la pace" | date=14 May 2022 }} Ciani, until then coordinator, was elected secretary, while Giro was re-elected president.{{cite web | url=https://www.romatoday.it/politica/paolo-ciani-segretario-nazionale-demos.html | title=Il primo congresso nazionale di Demos elegge Paolo Ciani nuovo segretario }}

In the 2022 general election, party leader Ciani was elected to the Chamber for the PD.

In the 2024 European Parliament election, the party ran with the PD and supported three candidates: Bartolo, Covassi and Marco Tarquinio.{{cite web | url=https://www.democraziasolidale.it/elezioni-europee-8-e-9-giugno-2024/?doing_wp_cron=1715087881.1878080368041992187500 | title=Elezioni europee 8 e 9 giugno 2024 | date=27 April 2024 }} Despite the first two being incumbents, the only elect was the latter.

Leadership

President: Lorenzo Dellai (2015–2018), Mario Giro (2018–present)
Coordinator/Secretary: Paolo Ciani (2015–present)

Election results

= Italian Parliament =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan="2" \| Election ! rowspan="2" \| Leader ! colspan="4" \| Chamber of Deputies ! colspan="4" \| Senate of the Republic
Votes ! % ! Seats ! +/– ! Votes ! % ! Seats ! +/–
2018 \| rowspan=2\|Paolo Ciani \| colspan=2\|Into CP \| {{composition bar\|0\|630\|hex={{party color\|Solidary Democracy}}}} \| – \| colspan=2\|Into CP \| {{composition bar\|0\|315\|hex={{party color\|Solidary Democracy}}}} \| –
2022 \| colspan=2\|Into PD–IDP \| {{composition bar\|1\|400\|hex={{party color\|Solidary Democracy}}}} \| {{increase}} 1 \| colspan=2\|Into PD–IDP \| {{composition bar\|0\|200\|hex={{party color\|Solidary Democracy}}}} \| –

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! rowspan="2" | Election

! rowspan="2" | Leader

! colspan="4" | Chamber of Deputies

! colspan="4" | Senate of the Republic

Votes

! %

! Seats

! +/–

! Votes

! %

! Seats

! +/–

2018

| rowspan=2|Paolo Ciani

| colspan=2|Into CP

| {{composition bar|0|630|hex={{party color|Solidary Democracy}}}}

| –

| colspan=2|Into CP

| {{composition bar|0|315|hex={{party color|Solidary Democracy}}}}

| –

2022

| colspan=2|Into PD–IDP

| {{composition bar|1|400|hex={{party color|Solidary Democracy}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

| colspan=2|Into PD–IDP

| {{composition bar|0|200|hex={{party color|Solidary Democracy}}}}

| –

= European Parliament =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! Election ! Leader ! Votes ! % ! Seats ! +/– ! EP Group
- ! 2019 \| rowspan=2\|Paolo Ciani \| colspan=2 \|Into PD \| {{Composition bar\|1\|76\|hex={{party color\|Solidary Democracy}}}} \| New \| rowspan=2\|S&D
2024 \| colspan=2 \|Into PD \| {{Composition bar\|1\|76\|hex={{party color\|Solidary Democracy}}}} \| {{steady}} 0

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! Election

! Leader

! Votes

! %

! Seats

! +/–

! EP Group

! 2019

| rowspan=2|Paolo Ciani

| colspan=2 |Into PD

| {{Composition bar|1|76|hex={{party color|Solidary Democracy}}}}