ROME – The party that Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi created more than a decade ago moved ahead with a plan to abandon its name and dissolve into another conservative bloc.
Berlusconi, a main proponent of the process, delivered a 15-minute speech to the party's national council, which approved the move Friday. Berlusconi, joking at one point and with a grin on his face, brought a handkerchief to his eyes as if to wipe away tears.
Under the plan, Forza Italia will merge with the No. 2 conservative party, the National Alliance, in a formation to be called Freedom People. The Freedom People banner was introduced at this year's election.
A meeting of Forza Italia delegates in March will seal the merger.
The conservative Berlusconi formed Forza Italia 14 years ago, as he announced his entry into politics from the media business. At elections only months later, the party became Italy's largest one.
Berlusconi insists the party will remain a "bastion of democracy and freedom in our country." To stress continuity of values, he quoted from the speech he gave in 1994 to announce he was entering politics.
Berlusconi has said for years he wanted to create a single party to replace Forza Italia and gather the center-right formations. The premier's rival center-left parties have undertaken a similar process, merging into the Democratic Party.
The change is significant because the Italian political system has been dominated either by many parties running alone or by multiparty, fractious coalitions. A two-party system would likely reduce the weight of fringe parties and increase government stability.
World news: Italian premier's political party OKs merger plan
ROME – The party that Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi created more than a decade ago mo...
Saturday 04 July 2009
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