The Democrats (Italy)

The Democrats (Democrazia è Libertà – La Margherita), often referred to simply as La Margherita (The Daisy), was a centrist Italian political party that existed from 2002 to 2007. It was formed through the merger of several smaller centre-left parties, including The Daisy (itself a federation of parties), Italian Renewal (Rinnovamento Italiano), the Italian People's Party (Partito Popolare Italiano), and Democrats (Democratici).

La Margherita positioned itself as a social-liberal and Christian democratic force within the Olive Tree coalition, a centre-left alliance led by Romano Prodi. The party advocated for European integration, social market economics, and civil rights.

Key figures associated with La Margherita included:

• Francesco Rutelli: A prominent leader of the party and former Mayor of Rome.
• Arturo Parisi: A political strategist and key figure in the party's formation.

In 2007, La Margherita merged with the Democrats of the Left (Democratici di Sinistra) and other smaller parties to form the Democratic Party (Partito Democratico), aiming to create a unified and stronger centre-left political force in Italy. The merger marked the end of La Margherita as a distinct political entity. The ideals and many of the personnel of La Margherita continued to influence the direction and policies of the Democratic Party following the union.