By: John Mark Shorack
Italy is a multi-party system. Most parties have a decent chance to win and have a favorable amount of citizens voting for them. They are the Italian Popular Party, Forza Italia (Go Italy), and the Democratic Party of the Left. The Italian Popular Party represents the views of the church, free enterprise, and social reform; the Forza Italia represents the conservative Italians, and was a coalition of several parties like the Northern League and the National Alliance (Britannica).
In Italy, previous to the Italian Popular Party was the Democratic Christian party they had the support of the Roman Catholic (Britannica). This gave them a big advantage. Now, they have become the Italian Popular Party so they do not have as much influence. Today, in Italy most parties are more powerful than others because they have a majority in Parliament. Many times they are required to create a coalition increasing the democracy of Italy. When parties create a coalition than they have a majority and the power.
The variety of parties in Italy does advance democracy. It allows the people to pick a party that truly follows their beliefs. They have a wide range variety of parties, and this way everyone and every belief has a chance of winning and helping the country. At the same time, many times it requires a coalition in Parliament which means the majority will have to listen to more than just their own side. I would give Italy’s democracy a 9 out of 10. I believe it is very democratic because everyone can vote and have different beliefs to choose from, but it also means some people will not get the policies they fought for, because the coalition did not include them.
Work Cited:
-“Italy” Encyclopedia Britannica. n.d. Web. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/297474/Italy/258800/Political-parties (accessed October, 23 2012)
-“Italian Popular Party” Encyclopedia Britannica. n.d. Web. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/297317/Italian-Popular-Party (accessed October, 23 2012)
U.S. Government Honors. 