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| New Centre-Right | |
|---|---|
| Name | New Centre-Right |
| Native name | Nuovo Centrodestra |
| Foundation | 2013 |
| Founder | Angelino Alfano |
| Split from | The People of Freedom |
| Headquarters | Rome |
| Position | Centre-right |
| European | European People's Party (observer) |
| Seats1 title | Chamber of Deputies |
| Seats2 title | Senate |
| Seats3 title | European Parliament |
| Country | Italy |
New Centre-Right was an Italian political formation established in 2013 by dissidents from The People of Freedom (Italy), led by Angelino Alfano. The party positioned itself within the centre-right spectrum, seeking alliances with Christian democratic, liberal conservatism, and pro-European Union constituencies. It participated in national and regional coalitions, influencing legislative coalitions during the premierships of Enrico Letta and Matteo Renzi.
The group emerged in 2013 when members split from The People of Freedom (Italy), reacting to leadership changes involving Silvio Berlusconi and alignments with Forza Italia. Founding figures included Angelino Alfano and supporters with backgrounds in Christian Democracy, National Alliance, and Union of the Centre circles. Early parliamentary maneuvers connected the party to coalition talks with Enrico Letta and later Matteo Renzi, while maintaining tactical relations with Giovanni Toti and various regional leaders. Electoral alliances involved negotiations with New Centre-Right allies, rural and urban constituencies, and members who previously held ministerial posts in cabinets of Silvio Berlusconi and Mario Monti. Over subsequent years, the formation experienced internal splits, mergers, and realignments with actors such as Forza Italia, Brothers of Italy, and centrist currents linked to Angelino Alfano's later projects.
Leaders articulated a platform rooted in Christian democracy, liberal conservatism, and pro-European Union stances, seeking to combine market-friendly policies akin to Liberalism advocates and social policies reminiscent of Catholic social teaching. The formation contrasted with populist and eurosceptic tendencies personified by Movimento 5 Stelle and Lega Nord, instead stressing alignment with the European People's Party family and technocratic approaches associated with figures from the Monti Cabinet. Policy emphasis drew on precedents from Christian Democratic International currents, dialogues with David Cameron-era Conservative Party (UK), and positions comparable to some members of The Republicans and People's Party (Spain). The group argued for balancing fiscal discipline advocated by proponents of European fiscal compact frameworks with protections for social safety nets championed by Catholic Action-influenced politicians.
The formation’s organizational structure featured a leadership circle around Angelino Alfano, who previously served in cabinets with Silvio Berlusconi and held posts linked to Interior Ministry and other ministries. Other prominent figures included parliamentarians with origins in National Alliance, Christian Democracy, and liberal currents. Internal bodies mirrored parliamentary groups in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate of the Republic, coordinating with regional offices in Lazio, Sicily, and Lombardy. Alliances and party discipline were influenced by negotiations with leaders such as Silvio Berlusconi, Matteo Salvini, and centrist figures including Pier Luigi Bersani and Matteo Renzi during coalition formations.
The party contested national elections and regional ballots after its 2013 foundation, achieving parliamentary representation through deputies and senators who defected from The People of Freedom (Italy). Electoral results reflected modest national vote shares but strategic importance in coalition arithmetic during the 2013 Italian general election aftermath and local contests in regions such as Sicily and Puglia. In European Parliament contexts, the formation sought observer affiliation with the European People's Party and coordinated candidacies with allied lists to secure representation. Vote distribution often mirrored strongholds of former Christian Democratic networks and urban constituencies with moderate conservative leanings.
The platform emphasized pro-European Union integration, fiscal responsibility consistent with European fiscal compact principles, and market-oriented reforms influenced by liberal conservatism advocates. Social policy proposals referenced Catholic social teaching and sought to reconcile welfare protections with labor market flexibility promoted by technocratic reformers linked to the Monti Cabinet. Immigration stances aimed for regulated admission and integration frameworks consonant with proposals debated in Parliament of Italy and European forums. On security and institutional reform, the party supported measures advanced in parliamentary committees alongside initiatives from leaders such as Angelino Alfano and policy advisers with experience in cabinets of Silvio Berlusconi.
Critics accused the formation of serving as a centrist vehicle for political opportunism following the split from The People of Freedom (Italy), citing tensions with supporters of Silvio Berlusconi and accusations from members of Forza Italia about loyalty. Media coverage compared its emergence to centripetal tendencies seen in Italian post-war realignments involving Christian Democracy and later fractures such as those involving Italian Republican Party figures. Policy critics from Movimento 5 Stelle and Lega Nord argued the platform was insufficiently distinct from established centre-right forces and questioned commitments on anti-corruption initiatives debated in the Italian Parliament.