Social Democracy Socialdemocrazia | |
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| Abbreviation | SD |
| Secretary | Umberto Costi |
| President | Antonio Esposito |
| Founded | 2 July 2022 |
| Preceded by | Italian Democratic Socialist Party |
| Headquarters | Rome |
| Ideology | Social democracy |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| National affiliation | Action – Italia Viva |
| Colours | Red |
| Website | |
| socialdemocratici | |
Social Democracy (Italian:Socialdemocrazia, SD) is asocial-democratic political party in Italy, established in 2022. It considers itself to be the continuation of the historicalItalian Democratic Socialist Party (PSDI), established in 1947.[1]
In November 2011 a group of splinters from the 2004 re-foundation of theItalian Democratic Socialist Party (PSDI) launched "The Social Democrats – Federalists for the Euromediterranean", simply known as "The Social Democrats" (iSD). Its leader wasMimmo Magistro, who had been the secretary of the PSDI from 2007 to July 2011, when a tribunal in Rome declaredRenato D'Andria, who had been elected secretary in 2006 only to see his election invalidated by the party, legitimate secretary of the party.[2] Magistro proposed a reconciliation between the two factions,[3] but D'Andria refused.[4] Thus, Magistro as well as 28 members out of 31 of the outgoing national council left the PSDI and formed the new party.[5] Members of iSD came mostly from the PSDI but also from theItalian Socialist Party and the libertarian factions of theItalian Socialist Party of Proletarian Unity.[6]
In January 2012, on the 65th anniversary of the split of Palazzo Barberini, the PSDI and iSD organized a joint event rememberingGiuseppe Saragat, founder and long-standing leader of the original PSDI.[7] A recomposition of the two groups looked possible, but was made difficult by the fact that D'Andria was keen on an alliance with thecentre-right (three MPs ofThe People of Freedom –Massimo Baldini,Giancarlo Lehner andPaolo Russo – were quite close to the new PSDI),[8][9][10] while Magistro had aligned iSD with thecentre-left.
In the July 2022 "Social Democracy" (SD), a new party in the tradition of the old PSDI, was established.[11][12] In the same month the party held its first national conference[13][14] during whichUmberto Costi was appointed secretary,Dino Madaudo president and Magistro honorary president.[15] In addition to several former activists from the PSDI, the new party was joined byAntonio Matasso, leader of theSicilian Socialist Party, which became the regional secretary of the party inSicily.[16] Magistro would return to the PSDI by 2023.[17]
SD, which initially wanted to contest the2022 Italian general election as part of the centre-left, enlarged to include centrist individuals, favoured the autonomy of its regional sections and aimed to promote a new socialist constituent assembly. Finally, in the run-up of the general election, the party joined forces withItalia Viva andAction, aiming to represent the left-wing of theAction – Italia Viva electoral list.[18] In the2024 European Parliament election the party supported theUnited States of Europe electoral list.[19]
During the 2025 national congress, Costi was confirmed secretary andAntonio Esposito was elected president.[20]
The party adheres to the ideas ofsocial democracy anddemocratic socialism. As a supporter ofinternationalism andpro-Europeanism, the party is committed to maintaining Italy in the geopolitical cadre of advanced liberal democracies.[21]
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Umberto Costi | IntoUSE | 0 / 76 | New | – | |