Italian Socialist Party
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| Italian Socialist Party Partito Socialista Italiano |
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 Former Italian National Party |
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| Political ideology | Democratic Socialism, Social Democracy |
| Membership | 674,057 (1991) max: 860,300 (1946) min: 430,258 (1949) [1] |
| Official newspaper | Avanti! |
| Website | N/A |
| See also | Politics of Italy |
The Italian Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Italiano, PSI) was originally a socialist/social democratic political party founded in Genoa in 1892. For many years it was the most important leftist party in Italy, but after World War II it was partially replaced by the Italian Communist Party. After being involved in the Tangentopoli scandal, it passed through a crisis that brought it to dissolution in 1994.
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[edit] History
[edit] Founding to World War I
The Italian Socialist Party was founded in 1892 in Genoa by delegates of several workers' associations (among others Filippo Turati), while Italy slowly industrialized. During its early years, the PSI suffered various forms of persecution by the government. However, during the first years of the 20th century, the PSI, whose electoral results were improving, chose not to oppose the governments led by Giovanni Giolitti, although the PSI was still divided into two major branches: the Reformists (led by Turati, strong mostly in the unions and the parliamentary group) and the Maximalists (led by, among others, Benito Mussolini, and affiliated to the London Bureau of socialist groups). As a result its direction was often confused. In 1912 the Maximalists won a party convention, and expelled the right wing. At the outbreak of World War I the PSI remained inactive in the face of Nationalist violence - but unlike other European Socialist Parties, the PSI remained firmly pacifist (and Mussolini, an interventionist, was thrown out). PSI never accepted Lenin's ideology of transforming the "imperialist war" into civil war (revolution).
[edit] After World War I
During the Fascist years, the party was led from exile, although it never actually dispersed. After World War II, the party returned to stand for Italy's first post-war elections. During the 1960s and 1970s, although repeatedly taking part in the government, PSI lost much of its influence. The Italian Communist Party (PCI) markedly replaced it as the strongest exponent of the left. In 1963 the PSI formed a coalition with the Italian Democratic Socialist Party (PSDI) under the name of the Unified Socialist Party (PSU). However, this was disbanded after the dismaying result at the 1968 elections, in which the PSU took far less seats than the total of seats which the two parties had obtained separately in the 1963. By the elections of 1972, the PSI's decline had steepened, receiving less than 10% of the vote (compared to 14.5% in 1958). However, Bettino Craxi was elected the new Secretary of the Party in 1976 and he initiated plans to innovate and establish credibility.
From 1976-1983, Craxi tried to undermine the PCI (which, till then, had been continuously increasing its votes in elections) by creating the 'Pentartito': an alliance of PSI with Christian Democracy (DC), the Italian Republican Party (PRI), the Italian Democratic Socialist Party (PSDI) and the Italian Liberal Party (PLI). At the same time, he sought to undermine the strength of the Christian Democrats by proposing alternatives to their out-dated governments. The Pentapartito was highly successful, but his alternative proposition for government remained unsuccessful. In the 1983 elections, however, the Christian Democrats received a mere 32% of the vote, compared to the 38% gained in 1979, leaving the group needing help to form a majority in Parliament. The PSI, which had gained 11%, threatened to leave the Pentapartito unless Craxi was made Prime Minister. The DC had to give in to avoid new elections which might bring worse results. Therefore Bettino Craxi was the first Socialist to become President of the Council and thus head of the Italian government.
[edit] Golden years
Craxi's position did not only last one year, as many Italian governments had. Instead, it lasted three-and-a-half years. His position was further helped by the President of the Republic Sandro Pertini, who was a fellow member of the Socialist Party.
During Craxi's presidency, the PSI gained popularity. His successes in office, for instance the boost in the economy, brought the GNP to a high level and inflation was also. The clash with the United States during the Sigonella incident also showed Italy's independence and nationalism. All of these were attributed to the reforms which the PSI had long wanted to initiate. The PSI looked like the driving force behind the bulk of reforms within the Pentapartito. Craxi, however, lost his post in March 1987 due to a conflict with the Pentapartito over the proposed budget for 1987.
However, the end of that Legislature was not until 1988, and Craxi allowed a Christian Democrat to take the reins of government: Amintore Fanfani remained president for 11 days and was left alone after the PSI left the Pentapartito.
From 1987-1992 the PSI threw three governments, allowing Giulio Andreotti to take power in 1989 and to govern until 1992. It held a strong balance of power, which made it de facto more powerful than the DC, who had to depend on it to form a majority in Parliament; the PSI kept tight control of this advantage.
In the 1987 general election the PSI gained 14.3% of the vote, but this time it was the Christian Democrats' turn to govern. However, the PSI created immense institutional confusion by not allowing governments to govern for more than 11 months, which eventually created an economic crisis.
The Social Unity advertised by Craxi in 1989 after the fall of communism was bearing fruit; the alternative which Craxi had wanted so much was taking shape. It was inevitably going to come after the end of communism, which undermined the Italian Communist Party.
By 1985, Craxi had taken the symbol of communism off the PSI logo, and replaced it with a rose. If Tangentopoli had not taken place, the PSI was in line to become the second party of Italy. However, the "advantage" that the Socialists had obtained by taking public money and bribes on a massive scale during the 1980s was finally going to end, and with it the Party itself.
[edit] Decline
In February 1992, the socialist hospital administrator Mario Chiesa was caught taking a bribe some 3,600 Euros in value, which was only 50% of the total expected bribe. The PSI, or more likely Bettino Craxi, did not see this as dangerous and denounced Chiesa by calling him an isolated thief, who had nothing to do with the party as a whole. However this was not technically true. The former mayor of Milan Carlo Tognoli had received many bribes according to Chiesa. Chiesa also admitted the fact that he had also financed the brother in law of Craxi, Paolo Pilliteri who himself had been Mayor of Milan (1986-1992).
Although Craxi did not see the danger, many Milanese industrials quickly confessed their crime; Consequently other socialists as well as Christian Democrats and Social Democrats entered the tempest of the judicial investigation named Mani Pulite (Clean Hands). The investigation was carried out by 3 Milanese magistrates in which Antonio Di Pietro quickly bacame a national hero thanks for his charismatic character and his abilities in extoring confessions.
The investigations were suspended for 4 weeks in order for the 1992 Italian general election to take place in uninfluenced atmosphere. The Socialist Party managed to get 13,6% even if corruption scandals predominly hit it the most. Many in the PSI saw things still under control but failed to see and realize that soon or later the investigations will begin to hit MPs, Minister finally hiting to the Leaders of parties. Furthermore, as soon as May 1992, public opinion unconditionally supported the magistartes against a political class or even more a political system which the majority of Italians distrusted already.
Soon after the elections, Mani Pulite started the investigations at full speed which bought for the PSI thingsout of hand. In May 1992 the socialist deputy Paolo Pilliteri received an avviso di garanzia, a letter informing him he was under criminal investigation. Craxi himself was to receive one of those letters in December 1992. Later the Parliament, under pressure, abolished the need of authorization by the magistrates to continue the investigation, although in April 1993, Parliament denied it 4 time. Italian newspapers shouted 'scandal', and Craxi was besieged at his Rome residence by a crowd of young people, who threw coins at him and shouted "Bettino do you want these as well?". This scene was to become one of the many symbols of corruption within the Italian political scene.
Between 1992-1993 nearly many Socialist regional, provincial and municipal councillors, MPs, mayors or even ministers found themselves overwhelmed with accusations some even been arrested. A famous but scandalous episode happened in Calabria were the socialist mayor was under house arrest and all the Socialist councillors under arrest. At this point public hatred drifted drammatically towards the socialists. Many regional headquarters of the PSI were besieged by those people who believed to vote a honest party with true socialist values.
Between January 1993 and Febraury 1993 Claudio Martelli (ex Justice Minister and ex Vice-Prime Minister) started to contend the leadership of the party. Martelli candidated himself, explaining the need to clean the party of its corruptors and make it electable. Although he had many supporters, Martelli as well as Craxi were caught in a scandal which dated back to 1982, when the Banco Ambrosiano gave to both Craxi and Martelli around 7 million dollars. Martelli candidacy vanished and he resigned from the party and from the government. Bettino Craxi quickly fastened his resignation which indeed came just after few days.
Craxi resigned as Party Secretary in February 1993. Many other important leaders left the party, such as Claudio Martelli and Paolo Pillitteri. Between 1992 and 1993, 3 Socialist deputies committed suicide and stated before dying 'the veil of hypocrisy which had covered the wrongdoings concerning financing their party'. Craxi was succedded by two Socialist trade-unionists, first Giorgio Benvenuto and then by Ottaviano del Turco. He was a simple person which had no link with the old dirigents of the party which had nearly all vanished.
At the administrative and communal elections of December 1993, the PSI was virtually wiped out, gaining around 3% of the vote. In Milan where the PSI had gained 20% in 1990 was reduced to a mere 2% which wasn't even enough for electing a councillor. That was just the start. The last secretary of the PSI Ottaviano Del Turco tried, in vain, to regain credibility to a party whose members were called 'thieves' in Parliament and in the media. Giuliano Amato, a Socialist and a close friend of Bettino Craxi, resigned as Prime Minister in April 1993. His government was succeeded by a technocratic government which sought to govern without political influence.
[edit] Dissolution
In the General Elections of 1994, what was left of PSI allied itself to the alliance of the Progressives under the leadership of post-Communist Democratic Party of the Left (PDS). Del Turco had quickly changed the party symbol to reinforce the idea of innovation. This however did not stop the PSI gaining only 2.2% of the votes compared to 13.6% in 1992. The party's candidates were mostly from the left-wing of the party, as Del Turco himself, while many Socialists get out from politics. Some of them joined suddenly to Forza Italia, as Antonio Guidi, Monica Stefania Baldi, Umberto Scapagnini and Emiddio Novi, others the Patto Segni, as Giulio Tremonti, others Democratic Alliance, as Giorgio Benvenuto, and some others the Greens, as Carlo Ripa di Meana).
PSI elected 16 deputies (Giuseppe Albertini, Enrico Boselli, Carlo Carli, Ottaviano Del Turco, Fabio Di Capua, Vittorio Emiliani, Mario Gatto, Luigi Giacco, Gino Giugni, Alberto La Volpe, Vincenzo Mattina, Valerio Mignone, Rosario Olivo, Corrado Paoloni, Giuseppe Pericu and Valdo Spini) and 14 senators (Paolo Bagnoli, Orietta Baldelli, Francesco Barra, Luigi Biscardi, Guido De Martino, Gianni Fardin, Carlo Gubbini, Maria Rosaria Manieri, Cesare Marini, Maria Antonia Modolo, Michele Sellitti, Giancarlo Tapparo, Antonino Valletta and Antonio Vozzi), down from 92 deputies and 49 senators of 1992.
The party was disbanded on 13 November 1994 after two years of agony, in which almost all of its longtime leaders, especially Bettino Craxi, were involved in Tangentopoli or get out of politics. The 100 years old party closed down, partially thanks to its leaders for their personalization of the PSI.
The Socialists, who did not adhere to other parties, organized themeselves basically in two groups: the Italian Socialists (SI) of Enrico Boselli, Ottaviano Del Turco, Roberto Villetti, Riccardo Nencini, Cesare Marini and Maria Rosaria Manieri, who decided to be autonomous from PDS, and the Labour Federation (FL) of Valdo Spini, Antonio Ruberti, Giorgio Ruffolo, Giuseppe Pericu, Carlo Carli and Rosario Olivo, who entered in close alliance it. The first group finally merged with other Socialist components to form the Italian Democratic Socialists (SDI) in 1998, while the second merged with PDS in the Democrats of the Left (DS) in the same year.
Between 1994 and 1996, many former Socialists joined Forza Italia, as Giulio Tremonti, Franco Frattini, Massimo Baldini and Luigi Cesaro, while some of the politicians closer to Bettino Craxi, as Gianni De Michelis and Ugo Intini, formed the Socialist Party, and some others, as Fabrizio Cicchitto and Enrico Manca, launched the Reform Socialist Party.
[edit] Diaspora
As of today, two minor formations claim to be the party's successor: Among the Italian Democratic Socialists (SDI), evolved from the Italian Socialists (SI), and the New Italian Socialist Party (NPSI), founded by Gianni De Michelis, Claudio Martelli and Bobo Craxi in 2001.
However both SDI and NPSI are much minor political forces, indeed most Socialist members and voters joined Forza Italia (FI), a centre-right party (see membership and factions of Forza Italia), while some others entered in the Democrats of the Left (DS) and in Democracy is Freedom – Daisy (DL).[1]
The Socialist who joined Forza Italia include Giulio Tremonti, Franco Frattini, Fabrizio Cicchitto, Renato Brunetta, Amalia Sartori, Francesco Musotto, Margherita Boniver, Francesco Colucci, Raffaele Iannuzzi, Maurizio Sacconi, Luigi Cesaro and Stefania Craxi, while Valdo Spini, Giorgio Benvenuto, Gianni Pittella and Guglielmo Epifani joined the DS and Enrico Manca, Tiziano Treu, Laura Fincato and Linda Lanzillotta joined DL. Giuliano Amato is now an independent in the Olive Tree federation, which unites DS and DL.
[edit] Leadership
National secretaries of PSI from 1943:
- Pietro Nenni (1943–1945)
- Sandro Pertini (1945–1946)
- Ivan Matteo Lombardo (1946–1947)
- Lelio Basso (1947–1948)
- Alberto Jacometti (1948–1949)
- Pietro Nenni (1949–1963)
- Francesco De Martino (1963–1968), co-secretery during the Unified Socialist Party's years (1966–1968)
- Mauro Ferri (1968–1969)
- Francesco De Martino (1969–1970)
- Giacomo Mancini (1970–1972)
- Francesco De Martino (1972–1976)
- Bettino Craxi (1976–1993)
- Giorgio Benvenuto (1993)
- Ottaviano Del Turco (1993–1994)
[edit] References
- ^ Among Italian MPs and MEPs, 62 out of 1060 come from the Italian Socialist Party: 32 are affiliated to Forza Italia (Simone Baldelli, Massimo Baldini, Paolo Bonaiuti, Margherita Boniver, Anna Bonfrisco, Renato Brunetta, Francesco Brusco, Giulio Camber, Giampiero Cantoni, Fabrizio Cicchitto, Francesco Colucci, Stefania Craxi, Luigi Cesaro, Gaetano Fasolino, Antonio Gentile, Paolo Guzzanti, Raffaele Iannuzzi, Vanni Lenna, Chiara Moroni, Francesco Musotto, Emiddio Novi, Gaetano Pecorella, Marcello Pera, Mauro Pili, Sergio Pizzolante, Gaetano Quagliariello, Maurizio Sacconi, Jole Santelli, Amalia Sartori, Aldo Scarabosio, Giorgio Stracquadanio, Renzo Tondo and Giulio Tremonti), 9 to the Italian Democratic Socialists (Rapisardo Antinucci, Enrico Boselli, Enrico Buemi, Giovanni Crema, Lello Di Gioia, Pia Elda Locatelli, Giacomo Mancini jr., Angelo Piazza and Roberto Villetti), 7 to the Democrats of the Left (Giogio Benvenuto, Antonello Cabras, Carlo Fontana, Beatrice Magnolfi, Gianni Pittella, Valdo Spini and Sergio Zavoli), 5 to Democracy is Freedom – Daisy (Laura Fincato, Linda Lanzillotta, Maria Leddi, Pierluigi Mantini and Tiziano Treu), 4 to the New Italian Socialist Party (Alessandro Battilocchio, Lucio Barani, Mauro Del Bue and Gianni De Michelis), 2 to the Movement for Autonomy (Pietro Reina and Giuseppe Saro), 1 to the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (Giuseppe Drago) and 2 non-party members (Giuliano Amato and Giovanni Ricevuto).
