A Political and Economic Dictionary of Western Europe, First Edition
The Democrats of the Left, or Democratici di Sinistra (DS), is the main left-wing party in Italy. Originally founded in 1921 as the Italian Communist Party, it abandoned communism in 1991 following the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and became the Party of the Democratic Left (Partido Democratico della Sinistra—PDS). The PDS changed its name to the DS on 14 February 1998.
In the elections held on 27 March 1994 the PDS led the eight-party Progressive Alliance (Progressista), which gained second place. In the elections held on 21 April 1996 the PDS headed the Olive Tree Coalition (L’Ulivo) which secured a narrow majority in the Camera dei Deputati. PDS leader Massimo D’Alema was the Olive Tree Coalition’s Prime Minister in 1998–2000. In the most recent general election, held on 13 May 2001, DS again headed the Olive Tree Coalition, with the Daisy Alliance, the Sunflower Alliance and the Italian Communist Party. The DS returned 138 deputies to the 630-seat Camera dei Deputati.
Leadership: Pres. Massimo D’Alema; Gen. Sec. Piero Fassino
Address: Via Palermo 12, 00184 Rome, Italy
Tel: (0)06 67111
Fax: (0)06 48023590
E-mail: p.fassino@democraticidisinistra.it
Internet: www.dsonline.it
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