Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy
Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (Italian: Democrazia è Libertà – La Margherita, DL), commonly known simply as The Daisy (La Margherita), was a centrist political party in Italy. The party was formed from the merger of three parties within the centre-left coalition: the Italian People's Party, The Democrats and Italian Renewal. The party president and leader was Francesco Rutelli, former mayor of Rome and prime ministerial candidate during the 2001 general election for The Olive Tree coalition, within which The Daisy electoral list won 14.5% of the national vote.
Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy Democrazia è Libertà – La Margherita | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Francesco Rutelli |
| Founded | 12 October 2000 (alliance) 24 March 2002 (party) |
| Dissolved | 14 October 2007 |
| Merger of | Italian People's Party The Democrats Italian Renewal |
| Merged into | Democratic Party |
| Headquarters | Via S. Andrea delle Fratte 16, Rome |
| Newspaper | Europa |
| Youth wing | Young People of the Daisy |
| Membership (2007) | 430,000 |
| Ideology |
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| Political position | Centre to centre-left |
| National affiliation | The Olive Tree (2002–07) The Union (2004–07) |
| European affiliation | European Democratic Party (2004–07) |
| International affiliation | Alliance of Democrats (2004–07) |
| European Parliament group | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (2004–07) |
| Colors | Green Azure |
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The Daisy became a single party in February 2002. It was set up by former left-leaning Christian Democrats, centrists, social-liberals (former Liberals and former Republicans), as well as other left-wing politicians from the former Italian Socialist Party and Federation of the Greens.
On 14 October 2007, DL merged with the Democrats of the Left to form the Democratic Party (PD).