Liberamente (which literally means "freely", but is also a play on words meaning "free mind") is aliberal-centrist foundation and think-tank withinForza Italia (FI), apolitical party in Italy. Its main leader isMariastella Gelmini and, previously,Franco Frattini.
Founded on 20 June 2010, the faction was one of the strongest withinThe People of Freedom as its members included eight ministers (Mariastella Gelmini, Franco Frattini,Maurizio Sacconi,Stefania Prestigiacomo,Mara Carfagna,Raffaele Fitto,Paolo Romani andGiancarlo Galan), plusMario Valducci (leader of theClubs of Freedom),Luigi Casero,Giorgio Stracquadanio,Giampiero Cantoni,Valentina Aprea,Giancarlo Serafini,Romano Comincioli,Lara Comi,Guido Podestà andLicia Ronzulli.[1][2][3][4] These, along withChristopher Columbus Foundation on opposite sides, represented the bulk of the formerForza Italia party,[5] merged withNational Alliance into the PdL in 2009, and were mostly liberals or formerSocialists, although the faction included also some leading Christian democrats such as Fitto.
Liberamente was born to reaffirm the identity of Forza Italia within the PdL, in opposition toGianfranco Fini'sGeneration Italy/Future and Freedom. InSicily the faction, through Prestigiacomo, approached withGianfranco Micciché, leader of the rebels of the PdL–Sicily. This caused outrage from the Sicilian majority of the party led byRenato Schifani andAngelino Alfano, two leading Christian democrats and former members of Forza Italia too.[6][7][8] When Micciché launchedForce of the South outside the PdL, Prestigiacomo was very sympathetic and took part to the new party's convention, but remained loyal to the PdL.[9]
MostLiberamente members (with the notable exceptions of Frattini and Sacconi) joined the newForza Italia in November 2013.