Us with Italy

Us with Italy Noi con l'Italia
President	Maurizio Lupi
Vice President	Giuseppe Galati Chiara Fazio Luigi Morgante
Coordinator	Francesco Saverio Romano
Founded	19 December 2017
Dissolved	12 July 2023
Split from	Popular Alternative
Succeeded by	Us Moderates
Headquarters	Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 18, Rome [1]
Ideology	Liberal conservatism Christian democracy
Political position	Centre [2] to centre-right [3] [4] [5]
National affiliation	Electoral list: Us Moderates (2022–2023) Coalition: Centre-right coalition
Colours	Blue
Website
www.noiconlitalia.it
Politics of Italy Political parties Elections

Us with Italy (Italian : Noi con l'Italia, NcI) was a liberal-conservative ^{[6] [7]} and Christian-democratic ^[6] political party in Italy. ^[8]

NcI started as a federation of minor centre-right parties and, as such, was part of the centre-right coalition in the 2018 general election. Along with Forza Italia, NcI represented the coalition's "centrist" wing and supported Silvio Berlusconi or another "centrist" candidate as Prime Minister. ^[3] Originally, the federation's full name was Us with Italy – UDC ^{[9] [10]} for its alliance with the Union of the Centre.

NcI's early leaders were Raffaele Fitto (president, leader of Direction Italy), Francesco Saverio Romano (vice president, leader of Cantiere Popolare), Maurizio Lupi (coordinator, former leading member of Popular Alternative) and Enrico Costa (the main proponent). Both Fitto, who led his party into Brothers of Italy, and Costa have since left. It has become a full-fledged political party under the leadership of Lupi.

In July 2023, the party was officially disbanded, becoming a founding member of the newborn centrist party, Us Moderates. ^[11]

History

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), ^{[12] [13] [14]} to form a "liberal centre" in alliance with FI. ^[15] 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", ^{[16] [17] [18] [19]} 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). ^{[20] [21]} On 29 December 2017 NcI signed a pact with the Union of the Centre (UdC), ^{[22] [5] [23]} 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. ^{[24] [25]} On 11 January a new symbol of NcI, containing also UdC's crossed shield, was unveiled. ^{[26] [27]}

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. ^{[28] [29] [30] [31]}

In April 2018, Costa also left the NcI and re-joined FI. ^{[32] [33]} More importantly, in December 2018 Fitto led DI out of NcI, announcing its end ^[34] (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. ^{[35] [36]}

In 2019, Lupi became NcI's new president and the outfit was structured as a full-fledged party, ^[37] 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. ^[38] NCI's Andrea Costa was appointed undersecretary of Health in Mario Draghi's government in 2021. ^[39]

In the run-up of the 2022 general election, NCI first formed a joint list with Italy in the Centre (IaC), ^[40] 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). ^[41]

In May 2023, the party held its first congress. Lupi was re-elected president by defeating Andrea Galli, ^{[42] [43]} while Giuseppe Galati became vice president and Francesco Saverio Romano coordinator. During the congress, it was announced that Us Moderates would become a party. ^{[44] [45] [46]}

Ideology

The party has been described primarily as liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic, but contains also and social-conservative ^[47] and liberal ^{[48] [25]} factions.

Composition

Founding members

Party		Main ideology	Leader/s
	Direction Italy	Liberal conservatism	Raffaele Fitto
	Civic Choice	Liberalism	Enrico Zanetti
	Act!	Liberalism	Flavio Tosi
	Cantiere Popolare	Christian democracy	Francesco Saverio Romano
	Movement for the Autonomies	Regionalism	Giuseppe Maria Reina
	Independents (former AP members)	Christian democracy	Maurizio Lupi
	Independents (former AP members)	Liberalism	Enrico Costa

2018 associate members

Party		Main ideology	Leader/s
	Union of the Centre	Christian democracy	Lorenzo Cesa
	Identity and Action	Christian democracy	Gaetano Quagliariello
	New CDU – United Christian Democrats	Christian democracy	Mario Tassone
	Union of Democrats for Europe	Christian democracy	Clemente Mastella

Election results

Italian Parliament

Chamber of Deputies
Election year	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Leader
2018	427,152 (8th)	1.30	4 / 630	–	Raffaele Fitto

Senate of the Republic
Election year	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Leader
2018	361,402 (8th)	1.20	4 / 315	–	Raffaele Fitto

European Parliament

European Parliament
Election year	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Leader
2019	into Forza Italia	–	0 / 76	–	Maurizio Lupi

Regional Councils

Region	Election year	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Lombardia	2018	66,355 (10th)	1.3	1 / 80	1
Lazio	2018	41.234 (9th)	1.6	1 / 51	1
Abruzzo	2019	17,308 (9th) [lower-alpha 1]	2.9	0 / 29	–
Molise	2018	5,204 (9th)	3.6	1 / 21	1

1. In a joint list with UDC, DC and IdeA.

Leadership

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

References

1. "Noi con l'Italia - Contatti". noiconlitalia.it. 18 December 2017.
2. "Nasce "Noi con l'Italia", la lista dei centristi pro-Berlusconi". 19 December 2017.
3. Monica Rubino (19 December 2017). "Nasce "Noi con l'Italia", la lista dei centristi pro-Berlusconi". la Repubblica.
4. Alessandro Cipolla (13 February 2018). "Elezioni, lista Noi con l'Italia chi sono? Sondaggi e programma in vista del voto". Money.it.
5. Giuseppe Alberto Falci (30 December 2017). "Nasce la stampella centrista di Forza Italia". Corriere della Sera.
6. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2018). "Italy". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
7. "Cesa e Fitto presentano il simbolo di Noi con l'Italia". Formiche.net. 11 January 2018.
8. Alberto Sofia (19 December 2017). ""Noi con l'Italia", ecco la quarta gamba del centrodestra: ex FI, leghisti espulsi e alfaniani pentiti". il Fatto Quotidiano. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
9. "Programma di Noi con l'Italia UDC". mauriziolupi.it. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
10. Margherita La Rocca Nuvolo (20 February 2018). "Elezioni, La Rocca Ruvolo: "Noi con l'Italia Udc determinanti per il centrodestra"". Agrigento Notizie.
11. Deliberazione 6 settembre 2023, n. 43/VAR
12. Piera Matteucci (19 July 2017). "Governo, si è dimesso ministro Enrico Costa: "Niente ambiguità"". la Repubblica.
13. "Enrico Costa si dimette: Gentiloni perde pezzi. L'ex ministro verso Forza Italia. Alfano: "Inevitabile e tardivo"". il Fatto Quotidiano. 19 July 2017.
14. Marianna Rizzini (19 July 2017). "Perché si è dimesso il ministro Enrico Costa, centrista, tennista e non palindromo". Il Foglio.
15. Roberto Scafuri (20 July 2017). "Costa lascia il governo Via al partito centrista che nasce contro Alfano". il Giornale.
16. Ugo Magri (21 July 2017). "Berlusconi accoglie i centristi. Pronto il nome: "Italia Civica"". La Stampa.
17. Fabrizio d'Esposito (19 July 2017). "E Berlusconi ordinò: "Fermate l'esodo o cade l'esecutivo"". il Fatto Quotidiano.
18. Alessandro De Angelis (20 July 2018). "Tra quarte gambe e bad company, viaggio nella galassia centrista implosa per l'ansia da seggio". Huffington Post.
19. "Centrodestra: Costa, con UDC-FARE-PLI per la collaborazione con FI". Partito Liberale Italiano. 27 July 2017.
20. "La "quarta gamba" del centrodestra: nasce Noi con l'Italia". Avvenire. 19 December 2017.
21. Francesco Curridori (19 December 2017). "Nasce Noi con l'Italia, la 'quarta gamba' del centrodestra". il Giornale.
22. "Udc-Noi con l'Italia, è accordo. Sulla lista torna lo scudo crociato". affaritaliani.it. 29 December 2017.
23. Anna Maria Greco (30 December 2017). "Berlusconi si appella ai delusi dalla politica: "Sarà sfida coi 5 Stelle"". il Giornale.
24. "La tela Fitto-Cesa si allarga su 'Idea' di Gaetano Quagliariello". affaritaliani.it. 5 January 2018.
25. Caterina Danese (5 January 2018). "Saremo noi a garantire l'autosufficienza al centrodestra. Parla Gaetano Quagliariello". Formiche.net.
26. "Verso il voto. Noi con l'italia presenta il simbolo, c'è lo scudo crociato". Avvenire. 11 January 2018.
27. Monica Rubino (11 January 2018). "Nella "quarta gamba" lo scudocrociato di Cesa. Voci di candidatura per Lotito e Ferrero: "Perché no?". la Repubblica.
28. "Centrodestra: De Poli (Udc), corriamo insieme per costruire Ppe italiano, priorità lavoro imprese e giovani | UDC Italia". 23 March 2018.
29. Cecchini, Camilla (10 March 2018). "Lettera del Presidente di IDEA Gaetano Quagliariello agli iscritti".
30. Cecchini, Camilla (23 March 2018). "Sottoscritto in Senato accordo federativo tra IDEA e Gruppo Forza Italia".
31. "Senato: Romani, con accordo Fi-Udc-Idea siamo secondo gruppo - Il Dubbio". Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
32. "Camera: Gelmini, Costa passa in Forza Italia". Agenzia Nova.
33. "Enrico Costa: "L'unico governo possibile è quello 'di contratto'"". Targatocn.it. 10 April 2018.
34. "Europee, "Noi con l'Italia esperienza chiusa". Stop di Fitto a Lupi e Romano". Affaritaliani.it (in Italian). 14 February 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
35. "Europee. Nci aderisce a "l'Altra Italia/Forza Italia"". 13 February 2019.
36. "Europee, Saverio Romano lancia la sua candidatura dopo il vertice con Berlusconi". 14 February 2019.
37. "Statuto".
38. "XVIII Legislatura - Deputati e Organi - Modifiche intervenute".
39. "Andrea Costa, il volto meno noto del sottogoverno: "Cosa ne so di sanità? Imparerò"". 26 February 2021.
40. "Elezioni: Toti e Lupi presentano il simbolo del nuovo schieramento - Liguria". 5 August 2022.
41. "Elezioni 2022, nasce 'Noi moderati' lista unica dei centristi di centrodestra". 11 August 2022.
42. "Noi con l'Italia: Il congresso regionale appoggia la candidatura alla presidenza di Galli".
43. "Congresso Nazionale 2023 - Mozione Galli". 29 April 2023.
44. "Noi Moderati a Congresso: "La vera sfida sono le Europee" - Video Tgcom24". 21 May 2023.
45. url=https://www.secoloditalia.it/2023/05/meloni-a-lupi-nel-i-congresso-di-noi-moderati-unita-e-concretezza-le-cifre-del-nostro-governo
46. "Centrodestra: Lupi Rieletto Presidente NCL, "Noi Moderati Diventera' Partito"". 21 May 2023.
47. Piero Ignazi (2008). Partiti politici in Italia. Il Mulino, Bologna. p. 58.
48. "Cattaneo: "Ecco perché ho aderito a Noi con l'Italia"". Varese News. 30 December 2017.

External links

• Official website