Social Action

Not to be confused with Social actions.
Social Action
Leader Alessandra Mussolini
Founded 2003
Dissolved 2009
Split from National Alliance
Merged into The People of Freedom
Newspaper None
Membership Unknown
Ideology National conservatism
Political position Right-wing
National affiliation Social Alternative (2004-2006)

Social Action (Italian: Azione Sociale, AS), previously known as Freedom of Action (Libertà di Azione, LdA), was a national-conservative political party in Italy, founded and led by maverick politician Alessandra Mussolini, who is the granddaughter of Benito Mussolini. The party became a faction within Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party.

Mussolini, who had been a member of the National Alliance (AN) since its foundation, suddenly left that party on 28 November 2003, following the visit of party leader and the Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini to Israel, where he described fascism as "the absolute evil" as he apologised for Italy's role as an Axis Power during the Second World War.[1] Mussolini however defended the right of Israel to exist and declared that the world "should beg forgiveness of Israel".[2]

Mussolini then formed her party and organized a far-right coalition named Social Alternative. That was a surprising move, as Mussolini, during her political career, had always taken social progressive stances on many issues, including abortion,[3] artificial insemination,[4][5] gay rights[6][7][8] and civil unions.[9][10] She has been an outspoken "feminist".[11] and has been described by conservative commentators as a "socialist"[12] and a "left-winger"[13]

The Social Alternative coalition was disbanded after the 2006 general election and by 2007 the party was almost disbanded as most of its original members returned to the National Alliance. Mussolini herself re-approached with Fini and was preparing her re-entry in AN when Silvio Berlusconi launched The People of Freedom (PdL). Mussolini decided to merge what remained of Social Action into the new party[14] and was elected in the 2008 general election as part of the PdL. In October 2012, the balance of accounts of the People of Freedom showed that Social Action had received € 100,000 of financial support from the PdL.[15]

Within the PdL Mussolini soon became the leader of the "pro-immigrant" wing of the party, often opposing some of the policies of the Berlusconi government or taking an independent line from it.[16][17]

References

  1. "La Mussolini lascia An «Gianfranco ha tradito»". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  2. Mussolini: World should 'beg forgiveness of Israel' – Haaretz – Israel News
  3. "la Mussolini: macche' omicidio cosi' si criminalizzano le donne". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  4. "Embrioni, da Mussolini a Melandri e' ancora polemica". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  5. "Fecondazione, il Parlamento vara le regole". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  6. "Destra e gay, pace vicina. Alessandra Mussolini: tra loro ho molti amici". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  7. "Alessandra: per una volta sono vicina alla sinistra". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  8. "La Mussolini piace ai gay e mette in imbarazzo An". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  9. "Turco-Mussolini, Thelma e Louise della politica «Tanta invidia ma andiamo avanti lo stesso»". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  10. "Raddoppiano le coppie di fatto Polo contro la proposta Mussolini". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  11. "Alessandra Mussolini: ora serve un nuovo femminismo". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  12. "Buttafuoco: Mussolini, vattene con l' Ulivo Alessandra: triste non sapere dove buttarsi". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  13. "An s' interroga su Alessandra «E' di destra o femminista?»". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  14. Italy: Berlusconi sets up a new right-wing party World Socialist Web Site
  15. Cuzzocrea, Annalisa (31 October 2012), "Spuntano i fondi ai transfughi così il partito ha finanziato Scilipoti", La Repubblica
  16. "Sicurezza, da 101 «ribelli» pdl no alla fiducia". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  17. "Cittadinanza rapida, Pdl diviso Gasparri: mai con noi al governo". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 24 December 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
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