Us with Italy

In the run-up of the 2018 general election there was a debate on the creation of a "fourth leg" of the centre-right coalition, whose three members were Forza Italia (FI), Lega Nord (LN) and the Brothers of Italy (FdI). The process started when Enrico Costa, a FI dissident who had been a minister in Paolo Gentiloni's centre-left government, resigned from his post and left his party, Popular Alternative (AP),{{cite news|author=Piera Matteucci|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/07/19/news/si_e_dimesso_ministro_costa-171149741|title=Governo, si è dimesso ministro Enrico Costa: "Niente ambiguità"|date=19 July 2017|newspaper=la Repubblica}}{{cite news|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/07/19/governo-enrico-costa-si-dimette-area-popolare-perde-pezzi-lex-ministro-piu-importanti-le-convinzioni-delle-posizioni/3739979|title=Enrico Costa si dimette: Gentiloni perde pezzi. L'ex ministro verso Forza Italia. Alfano: "Inevitabile e tardivo"|date=19 July 2017|newspaper=il Fatto Quotidiano}}{{cite news|author=Marianna Rizzini|url=http://www.ilfoglio.it/politica/2017/07/19/news/perche-si-e-dimesso-il-ministro-enrico-costa-centrista-tennista-e-non-palindromo-145251|title=Perché si è dimesso il ministro Enrico Costa, centrista, tennista e non palindromo|newspaper=Il Foglio|date=19 July 2017}} to form a "liberal centre" in alliance with FI.{{cite news|author=Roberto Scafuri|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/costa-lascia-governo-partito-centrista-che-nasce-contro-1422354.html|title=Costa lascia il governo Via al partito centrista che nasce contro Alfano|newspaper=il Giornale|date=20 July 2017}} Originally, the Federation of Freedom (FdL), a parliamentary group in the Senate launched by Identity and Action (IdeA), was seen as the embryo of the "fourth leg",{{cite news|author=Ugo Magri|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2017/07/21/italia/cronache/berlusconi-accoglie-i-centristi-pronto-il-nome-italia-civica-lI4hvWOtBfhCVQYBVxD1pI/pagina.html|title=Berlusconi accoglie i centristi. Pronto il nome: "Italia Civica"|newspaper=La Stampa|date=21 July 2017}}{{cite news|author=Fabrizio d'Esposito|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/premium/articoli/e-berlusconi-ordino-fermate-lesodo-o-cade-lesecutivo|title=E Berlusconi ordinò: "Fermate l'esodo o cade l'esecutivo"|newspaper=il Fatto Quotidiano|date=19 July 2017}}{{cite news|author=Alessandro De Angelis|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2017/07/20/tra-quarte-gambe-e-bad-company-viaggio-nella-galassia-centrista_a_23039812|title=Tra quarte gambe e bad company, viaggio nella galassia centrista implosa per l'ansia da seggio|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=20 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.partitoliberale.it/14812/attivita-del-pli/centrodestra-costa-udc-pli-la-collaborazione-fi.html|title=Centrodestra: Costa, con UDC-FARE-PLI per la collaborazione con FI|website=Partito Liberale Italiano|date=27 July 2017}} but IdeA was not involved in the first steps, which involved other political actors.

On 19 December 2017, "Us with Italy" (NcI) was formed by seven groups: the faction of AP led by Maurizio Lupi, other former AP members close to Enrico Costa, Direction Italy (DI), Civic Choice (SC), Act! (Fare), Cantiere Popolare (CP) and the Movement for the Autonomies (MpA).{{cite news|url=https://www.avvenire.it/attualita/pagine/nasce-noi-con-l-italia|title=La "quarta gamba" del centrodestra: nasce Noi con l'Italia|newspaper=Avvenire|date=19 December 2017}}{{cite news|author=Francesco Curridori|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/nasce-noi-litalia-quarta-gamba-centrodestra-1475804.html|title=Nasce Noi con l'Italia, la 'quarta gamba' del centrodestra|newspaper=il Giornale|date=19 December 2017}} On 29 December 2017 NcI signed a pact with the Union of the Centre (UdC),{{cite web|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/milano/udc-noi-con-italia-accordo-sulla-lista-torna-lo-scudo-crociato-517050.html|title=Udc-Noi con l'Italia, è accordo. Sulla lista torna lo scudo crociato|website=affaritaliani.it|date=29 December 2017}}{{cite news|author=Giuseppe Alberto Falci|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/17_dicembre_30/gentiloni-berlusconi-lornzin-casini-pd-margherita-civica-popolare-simbolo-votazioni-nasce-stampella-centrista-forza-italia-c6bba08c-ecfc-11e7-ba29-fb1d66cc2503.shtml|title=Nasce la stampella centrista di Forza Italia|newspaper=Corriere della Sera|date=30 December 2017}}{{cite news|author=Anna Maria Greco|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/berlusconi-si-appella-ai-delusi-politica-sar-sfida-coi-5-1478798.html|title=Berlusconi si appella ai delusi dalla politica: "Sarà sfida coi 5 Stelle"|newspaper=il Giornale|date=30 December 2017}} which led to the "Us with Italy – UDC" name. On 5 January 2018 it was the turn of IdeA, which was persuaded by the federative character of the list and the more distinctive Christian-democratic identity, both thanks to UdC's presence.{{cite web|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/puglia/la-tela-fitto-cesa-si-allarga-su-idea-di-gaetano-quagliariello-517848.html|title=La tela Fitto-Cesa si allarga su 'Idea' di Gaetano Quagliariello|website=affaritaliani.it|date=5 January 2018}}{{cite web|author=Caterina Danese|url=http://formiche.net/2018/01/saremo-garantire-lautosufficienza-al-centrodestra-parla-gaetano-quagliariello/|title=Saremo noi a garantire l'autosufficienza al centrodestra. Parla Gaetano Quagliariello|website=Formiche.net|date=5 January 2018}} On 11 January a new symbol of NcI, containing also UdC's crossed shield, was unveiled.{{cite news|url=https://www.avvenire.it/attualita/pagine/noi-con-l-italia|title=Verso il voto. Noi con l'italia presenta il simbolo, c'è lo scudo crociato|newspaper=Avvenire|date=11 January 2018}}{{cite news|author=Monica Rubino|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/01/11/news/nella_quarta_gamba_del_centrodestra_anche_lo_scudocrociato_di_cesa-186266682|title=Nella "quarta gamba" lo scudocrociato di Cesa. Voci di candidatura per Lotito e Ferrero: "Perché no?|newspaper=la Repubblica|date=11 January 2018}}

In the election, NcI obtained a mere 1.3% of the vote for the Chamber of Deputies and four deputies from single-seat constituencies: Costa, Lupi, Alessandro Colucci and Renzo Tondo. The first three were former members of AP, while the fourth was a member both of Responsible Autonomy (a regional liberal party active in Friuli-Venezia Giulia) and DI. The list was able to elect also four senators, three of the UdC and one of IdeA. Soon after the election, both the UdC and IdeA left the alliance to form a pact with FI.{{Cite web|url=http://www.udc-italia.it/c-destra-de-poli-udc-corriamo-insieme-per-costruire-ppe-italiano-priorita-lavoro-imprese-e-giovani|title=Centrodestra: De Poli (Udc), corriamo insieme per costruire Ppe italiano, priorità lavoro imprese e giovani | UDC Italia|date=23 March 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.movimentoidea.it/news/lettera-del-presidente-idea-gaetano-quagliariello|title=Lettera del Presidente di IDEA Gaetano Quagliariello agli iscritti|first=Camilla|last=Cecchini|date=10 March 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.movimentoidea.it/news/sottoscritto-senato-accordo-federativo-idea-gruppo-forza-italia|title=Sottoscritto in Senato accordo federativo tra IDEA e Gruppo Forza Italia|first=Camilla|last=Cecchini|date=23 March 2018}}{{Cite web |url=http://ildubbio.news/ildubbio/2018/03/23/senato-romani-con-accordo-fi-udc-idea-siamo-secondo-gruppo |title=Senato: Romani, con accordo Fi-Udc-Idea siamo secondo gruppo - Il Dubbio |access-date=26 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328102640/http://ildubbio.news/ildubbio/2018/03/23/senato-romani-con-accordo-fi-udc-idea-siamo-secondo-gruppo/ |archive-date=28 March 2018 |url-status=dead }}

In April 2018, Costa also left the NcI and re-joined FI.{{Cite web|url=https://www.agenzianova.com/a/0/1893438/2018-04-19/camera-gelmini-costa-passa-in-forza-italia|title=Camera: Gelmini, Costa passa in Forza Italia|website=Agenzia Nova}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.targatocn.it/2018/04/10/leggi-notizia/argomenti/politica/articolo/enrico-costa-lunico-governo-possibile-e-quello-di-contratto.html|title=Enrico Costa: "L'unico governo possibile è quello 'di contratto'"|date=10 April 2018|website=Targatocn.it}} More importantly, in December 2018 Fitto led DI out of NcI, announcing its end{{Cite web|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/politica/europee-fitto--noi-con-italia--esperienza-chiusa-no-alleanze---europee-588000.html|title=Europee, "Noi con l'Italia esperienza chiusa". Stop di Fitto a Lupi e Romano|website=Affaritaliani.it|date=14 February 2019 |language=it|access-date=29 November 2019}} (DI would join the right-wing FdI in 2019). However, NcI continued to exist as a sub-group within the Mixed Group of Chamber of Deputies. Moreover, in the 2019 European Parliament election it was part of FI's electoral slates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tempi.it/europee-nci-aderisce-a-laltra-italia-forza-italia|title = Europee. Nci aderisce a "l'Altra Italia/Forza Italia"|date = 13 February 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2019/02/14/news/europee_saverio_romano_lancia_la_sua_candidatura_dopo_il_vertice_con_berlusconi-219136850/|title=Europee, Saverio Romano lancia la sua candidatura dopo il vertice con Berlusconi|date=14 February 2019}}

In 2019, Lupi became NcI's new president and the outfit was structured as a full-fledged party,{{Cite web|url=https://www.noiconlitalia.it/index.php/sample-page/statuto|title = Statuto}} composed of three associate parties: Popular Liguria (LP), AR and CP. Progressively, other minor groups, notably including the South American Union of Italian Emigrants (USEI), the Alliance of the Centre (AdC), the Moderates in Revolution (MiR), the Schittulli Political Movement (MPS) and Renaissance were merged into NcI or became associate parties. After a brief alliance with Cambiamo!, since February 2021 the party's sub-group within the Mixed Group of the Chamber has been named "Us with Italy–USEI–Renaissance–AdC" and has featured five members: Lupi (a Christian democrat), Colucci (a social democrat) and Tondo (a liberal) of NcI, Eugenio Sangregorio of the USEI and Vittorio Sgarbi of Renaissance.{{cite web | url=https://www.camera.it/leg18/1083 | title=XVIII Legislatura - Deputati e Organi - Modifiche intervenute }} NCI's Andrea Costa was appointed undersecretary of Health in Mario Draghi's government in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/02/26/news/andrea_costa_sottosegretario_alla_sanita_-289383156 | title=Andrea Costa, il volto meno noto del sottogoverno: "Cosa ne so di sanità? Imparerò" | date=26 February 2021 }}

In the run-up of the 2022 general election, NCI first formed a joint list with Italy in the Centre (IaC),{{cite web | url=https://www.ansa.it/liguria/notizie/2022/08/05/elezioni-toti-e-lupi-presentano-il-nuovo-simbolo_950d8da1-c337-437f-844e-4935207d5ce9.html | title=Elezioni: Toti e Lupi presentano il simbolo del nuovo schieramento - Liguria | date=5 August 2022 }} then it was a founding member of Us Moderates (NM), a broader joint list within the centre-right coalition, along with IaC, the UdC and Coraggio Italia (CI).{{cite web | url=https://www.adnkronos.com/elezioni-2022-nasce-noi-moderati-lista-unica-dei-centristi-di-centrodestra_3xK5misvGdw419cYANAknV | title=Elezioni 2022, nasce 'Noi moderati' lista unica dei centristi di centrodestra | date=11 August 2022 }}

In May 2023, the party held its first congress. Lupi was re-elected president by defeating Andrea Galli,{{cite web | url=https://www.lapressa.it/articoli/politica/noi-con-litalia-il-congresso-regionale-appoggia-la-candidatura-alla | title=Noi con l'Italia: Il congresso regionale appoggia la candidatura alla presidenza di Galli }}{{cite web | url=https://www.noiconlitalia.it/congresso-nazionale-2023-mozione-galli | title=Congresso Nazionale 2023 - Mozione Galli | date=29 April 2023 }} while Giuseppe Galati became vice president and Francesco Saverio Romano coordinator. During the congress, it was announced that Us Moderates would become a party.{{cite web | url=https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/2023/video/noi-moderati-a-congresso-la-vera-sfida-sono-le-europee-_65065074-02k.shtml | title=Noi Moderati a Congresso: "La vera sfida sono le Europee" - Video Tgcom24 | date=21 May 2023 }}url=https://www.secoloditalia.it/2023/05/meloni-a-lupi-nel-i-congresso-di-noi-moderati-unita-e-concretezza-le-cifre-del-nostro-governo{{cite web | url=https://abruzzoweb.it/centrodestra-lupi-rieletto-presidente-ncl-noi-moderati-diventera-partito | title=Centrodestra: Lupi Rieletto Presidente NCL, "Noi Moderati Diventera' Partito" | date=21 May 2023 }}

The party has been described primarily as liberal conservative and Christian-democratic, but contains also and social-conservative{{cite book|author=Piero Ignazi|title=Partiti politici in Italia |year=2008|publisher=Il Mulino, Bologna|page=58}} and liberal{{cite news|url=http://www.varesenews.it/2017/12/cattaneo-perche-aderito-litalia/680683/|title=Cattaneo: "Ecco perché ho aderito a Noi con l'Italia"|newspaper=Varese News|date=30 December 2017}} factions.

{{notelist}}

• President: Raffaele Fitto (2017–2018), Maurizio Lupi (2019–2023)
• Vice President: Francesco Saverio Romano (2017–2023), Giuseppe Galati (2023), Chiara Fazio (2023), Luigi Morgante (2023)
• Coordinator: Maurizio Lupi (2017–2019), Renzo Tondo (2023), Francesco Saverio Romano (2023)
• Organisational Secretary: Alessandro Colucci (2021–2023)

{{Reflist}}

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