February 13, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Italy’s political scene could become tightly contested if the country’s organizations agree to form two rival alliances, according to a poll by IPR Marketing published in La Repubblica. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the centre-right House of Freedom (Casa), while 46 per cent would back a prospective coalition of centre-left parties.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Italy’s political scene could become tightly contested if the country’s organizations agree to form two rival alliances, according to a poll by IPR Marketing published in La Repubblica. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the centre-right House of Freedom (Casa), while 46 per cent would back a prospective coalition of centre-left parties.

The Union of Christian and Centre-Democrats (UDC) is third with six per cent, followed by the White Rose (RB) movement—created in January by former UDC members Bruno Tabacci and Mario Baccini—with two per cent.

The House of Freedom encompasses the Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL)—created in December by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi—the National Alliance (AN), the Northern League (LN) and the Popular Alliance (UDEUR).

A proposed New Union of centre-left parties would incorporate the Democratic Party (PD) of Walter Veltroni, the Left Rainbow (SA)—which brings together the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC), the Party of Italian Communists (PCI), the Green Federation (Verdi) and the Democratic Left (SD)—and Antonio di Pietro’s Italy of Values.

Italian voters renewed the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate in April 2006. The centre-left Union, led by Romano Prodi, secured 348 seats in the lower house and 158 seats in the upper house. The victory put an end to the government of the centre-right House of Freedom, headed by Berlusconi.

In May 2006, Prodi was formally appointed as prime minister. The Union leader had previously served as head of government from May 1996 to October 1998. In January, Prodi lost a confidence vote in Parliament and was forced to step down. After Senate president Franco Marini failed in his bid to form a caretaker administration, a legislative election was scheduled for Apr. 13 and Apr. 14.

On Feb. 11, Veltroni launched his campaign, saying, "Italy doesn’t have to pick itself up—the Italy that works, which produces, the hard-working Italians, are already standing. It is politicians who must pick themselves up and change."

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the election to the Chamber of Deputies?

House of Freedom (Centre-Right) Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL) National Alliance (AN) Northern League (LN) Popular Alliance (UDEUR) Other centre-right	46.0%
Centre-Left Parties Democratic Party (PD) Left Rainbow (SA) Italy of Values (di Pietro) Other centre-left	46.0%
Union of Christian and Centre-Democrats (UDC)	6.0%
White Rose (RB)	2.0%

Source: IPR Marketing / La Repubblica
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Italian adults, conducted on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, 2008. No margin of error was provided.