Olive Tree (Italian: l'Ulivo) is a political denomination strongly related to Third Way policies in Italy and commonly adopted by center-to-left alliances of parties from 1996 to now. The name was introduced by Romano Prodi, professor of economics and former left-wing Christian Democrat.

Contents

1 Olive Tree - together for Italy 2 All United in the Olive Tree - for Europe 3 All United in the Olive Tree 4 See also 5 External link

Olive Tree - together for Italy

The Olive Tree - together for Italy (Italian: l'Ulivo - insieme per l'Italia) was a coalition of left-wing and centrist political parties in Italy. In April 21 1996, the Olive Tree won general elections in alliance with the Communist Refoundation Party, making Romano Prodi Prime Minister of Italy. In October 9 1998, the Romano Prodi (1st Time) administration fell when the Communist Refoundation Party left the alliance. In October 21 1998 the Olive Tree was the core of the Massimo D'Alema (1st Time) administration, in December 22 1999 of the Massimo D'Alema (2nd Time) administration and in April 25 2000 of the Giuliano Amato (2nd Time) administration. In May 13 2001, led by Francesco Rutelli, the coalition lost the general elections against Silvio Berlusconi and his renewed center-to-right coalition, the House of Freedoms (Italian: Casa delle Libertà).

All United in the Olive Tree - for Europe

In June 12 2004 the Olive Tree, as all united in the Olive Tree - for Europe (Italian: uniti nell'Ulivo - per l'Europa), ran in European Parliament Elections 2004 gaining 31,1% of popular votes. Only 3 out of 8 former Olive Tree affiliate parties participated the coalition.

All United in the Olive Tree

In September 13 2004 the Olive Tree became the Federation of All United in the Olive Tree (Italian: Uniti nell'Ulivo) or, more shortly, the FED, a more strict alliance of only 3 out of 8 former affiliate parties plus the small former non-aligned European Republicans Movement .

The Olive Tree Federation is led by Romano Prodi and aims to be the core of a greater center-left coalition, called The Union (Italian: L'Unione), in order to run for the 2006 general elections and defeat Silvio Berlusconi and the House of Freedoms. Current member parties of the federation are:

• Democrats of the Left (Italian: Democratici di Sinistra)
• Daisy-Democracy is Freedom (Italian: Margherita - Democrazia è Libertà)
• European Republican Movement (Italian: Movimento Repubblicani Europei)
• Italian Democratic Socialists (Italian: Socialisti Democratici Italiani)

See also

• List of political parties in Italy

External link

• l'Ulivo (in Italian)
• Uniti nell'Ulivo (in Italian)
• "Italy's Olive Tree" (1996) The Nation