Alliance for Italy (Italian: Alleanza per l'Italia, abbreviated API) was a centrist political party in Italy.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founding date | 11 November 2009 |
| Founder | Francesco Rutelli, former mayor of Rome and longtime member of the Democratic Party (PD) |
| Political position | Centre to centre‑left; liberal, pro‑European, reformist |
| Headquarters | Rome, Italy |
| Dissolution | 2015 (merged into Civic Choice and later into other centrist formations) |
| Key alliances | Initially aligned with the centre‑right coalition in some regional elections; later joined the centrist “Civic Choice” coalition for the 2013 general election |
| Electoral performance | – 2009 European Parliament election: 2.2 % of the national vote, winning two seats (Rutelli and another MP). – 2010 regional elections: participated in several regional contests, generally attaining modest vote shares below 5 %. – 2013 general election: ran as part of the Civic Choice list, securing limited representation. |
| Ideology and policies | Advocated for institutional reforms, a strong European integration, civil liberties, environmental sustainability, and a market‑friendly economy tempered by social welfare considerations. |
| Successor entities | After its dissolution, former members joined Civic Choice (Scelta Civica) and later contributed to the formation of Italia Viva and other centrist groupings. |
History
The party originated from a split within the Democratic Party in 2009, when Rutelli and a group of reform‑oriented politicians left to create a new centrist formation that could attract voters disenchanted with both the traditional centre‑left and centre‑right blocs. The name Alleanza per l'Italia reflected an emphasis on national unity and constructive political renewal.
In the 2009 European Parliament election, API entered the contest independently, achieving a modest but notable result that granted it two seats. The party subsequently engaged in various regional alliances, sometimes cooperating with the centre‑right coalition led by Silvio Berlusconi, while maintaining its distinct centrist identity.
By 2013, the Italian political landscape was undergoing significant realignment. API joined forces with former Prime Minister Mario Monti’s new centrist party, Civic Choice, to contest the general election. Following the election, the party’s separate organisational structure was gradually phased out, and its members integrated into Civic Choice and later into other centrist parties.
Legacy
Although Alliance for Italy existed for a relatively short period, it contributed to the broader reconfiguration of Italy’s centre and highlighted the persistent demand for a liberal, pro‑European political alternative. Several former API leaders continued to play roles in subsequent centrist initiatives, influencing policy debates on constitutional reform, European integration, and economic modernization.