TheCommunity Democratic League (Lega Democratica Comunitaria, LDC) was aVenetist andChristian-socialistpolitical party active inVeneto.
The party was founded in July 2011 by some splinters ofLiga Veneta–Lega Nord (LV–LN) led byDavide Lovat. Lovat had been an activist of Liga Veneta in theprovince of Vicenza for 18 years before becoming a leading voice against the party leadership.[1][2] A keen Venetist and left-winger, in February 2011 he was expelled from the party.[3] Some months on, along with other splinters from LV–LN, Lovat started organizing the LDC.
The name "Community Democratic League" was chosen by Lovat, who has studiedpolitical science andtheology, as a reference both to the "National Democratic League" ofRomolo Murri, a radical priest, and theNational League for Democracy ofNobel Peace PrizeAung San Suu Kyi. Lovat set the party in the tradition ofChristian socialism and early Venetian nationalism. According to its manifesto, the LDC supportedregionalism, the reform of theItalian Constitution following theGerman model, restrictions toimmigration on economic grounds, andEuropean integration in the form of theGaullist "Europe of Peoples and Nations". The party opposedxenophobia,neo-liberalism, the exploitation ofreligions for political purposes, and the influence of theUnited States overEurope.[4]
As soon as in September the LDC became an associate party ofMagdi Allam'sI Love Italy party,[5] while in October the party was integrated in the largerVenetian Project, including other small Venetist, autonomist, independentist and traditionalist parties and cultural associations.[6][7]
In December 2012 the LDC was integrated intoVeneto State (VS) and Lovat was chosen as the party's candidate for mayor ofVicenza.[8][9]
