The Social Christians ( it, Cristiano Sociali) are a Christian social-democratic faction within the Democratic Party, a political party in Italy. Before that, they were a party (1993–1998) and a faction of the

Democrats of the Left The Democrats of the Left ( it, Democratici di Sinistra, DS) was a social-democratic political party in Italy. The DS, successor of the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS) and the Italian Communist Party, was formed in 1998 upon the merger of th ...

(1998–2007). The CS are a member of the

International League of Religious Socialists The International League of Religious Socialists is an umbrella organization of religious socialist movements in political parties throughout the world. Founded in the 1920s, it has member groups in 20 countries totaling 200,000 members. For most ...

(ILRS).

History

The group was founded as a party by trade-union leader Pierre Carniti and economist Ermanno Gorrieri in 1993, in order to represent Christian leftists and

socialists Socialism is a left-wing economic philosophy and movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership. As a term, it describes the eco ...

within the nascent

Alliance of Progressives The Alliance of Progressives ( it, Alleanza dei Progressisti) was a left-wing political alliance of parties in Italy formed in 1994, with relevant predecessors at local level in 1993. The leader of the alliance was Achille Occhetto. The allianc ...

. In the 1994 general election the party was included in the

Democratic Party of the Left The Democratic Party of the Left ( it, Partito Democratico della Sinistra, PDS) was a democratic socialist and social-democratic political party in Italy. Founded in February 1991 as the post-communist evolution of the Italian Communist Party, t ...

and obtained eight deputies and six senators, while in the 1996 general election five deputies (including Mimmo Lucà and

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...

pastor Domenico Maselli) and four senators won election. In 1998 the CS fully joined the

(DS) and were later a faction within that party.Cristiano Sociali - www.CRISTIANOSOCIALI.it
In 2007 the CS were keen supporters of the merger of the DS into the Democratic Party and in first leadership election most of them supported

Walter Veltroni Walter Veltroni (; born 3 July 1955) is an Italian writer, film director, journalist, and politician, who served as the first leader of the Democratic Party within the centre-left opposition, until his resignation on 17 February 2009. He serv ...

. In the 2009 leadership election the faction chose to support Pier Luigi Bersani, while two former leading members,

Giorgio Tonini Giorgio Tonini (born 5 January 1959) is an Italian journalist and politician. He served in the Italian Senate from 2001 to 2018. References External links Official website Senators of Legislature XIV of Italy Senators of Legislatur ...

and

Stefano Ceccanti Stefano is the Italian form of the masculine given name Στέφανος (Stefanos, Stephen). The name is of Greek origin, Στέφανος, meaning a person who made a significant achievement and has been crowned. In Orthodox Christianity the ach ...

, who had been Veltroni's close allies, supported

Dario Franceschini Dario Franceschini (; born 19 October 1958) is an Italian lawyer, writer, and politician, member of the Democratic Party (PD), of which he briefly became leader in 2009. Franceschini served as Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities and T ...

. After the 2001 and 2006 general elections, the faction continued to have at least four deputies and senators, although lately the faction's strength has been reduced.

Leadership

*Coordinator: Pierre Carniti (1993–1999),

(1999–2003), Mimmo Lucà (2003–present) *President: Ermanno Gorrieri (1993–1999), Pierre Carniti (1999–2003)

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control 1993 establishments in Italy Catholic political parties Catholic social teaching Christian democratic parties in Italy Christian socialist organizations Defunct political parties in Italy Democratic Party (Italy) factions Political parties established in 1993