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Left Ecology Freedom (, SEL) was a
democratic socialist Democratic socialism is a left-wing economic and political philosophy that supports political democracy and some form of a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self-mana ...
political party in Italy whose bulk was formed by former members of the
Communist Refoundation Party The Communist Refoundation Party (, PRC) is a Communism, communist List of political parties in Italy, political party in Italy that emerged from a split of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) in 1991. The party's secretary is Maurizio Acerbo, who r ...
. The party's leader was Nichi Vendola, a former President of
Apulia Apulia ( ), also known by its Italian language, Italian name Puglia (), is a Regions of Italy, region of Italy, located in the Southern Italy, southern peninsular section of the country, bordering the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Strait of Ot ...
. On 17 December 2016, SEL dissolved into
Italian Left Italian Left (, SI) is a left-wing political party in Italy. SI was launched in November 2015 as a parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies (full name: Italian Left – Left Ecology Freedom), including Left Ecology Freedom (SEL), dissid ...
, which was officially launched as a party in early 2017.


History


Left and Freedom

SEL was formed as an alliance called Left and Freedom (''Sinistra e Libertà'', SL) in the run up to the
2009 European Parliament election The 2009 European Parliament election was held in the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Member of the European Parliament, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were elected to represent s ...
in order to overcome the 4% threshold introduced by the new electoral law in February 2009. At the time of formation, on 16 March 2009, SL included: * Movement for the Left (MpS,
socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...
/
communist Communism () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, di ...
, leader: Nichi Vendola, 2 MEPs) * Socialist Party (PS,
social-democratic Social democracy is a social, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy and a gradualist, reformist, and democratic approach toward achieving social equality. In modern practice, socia ...
, leader:
Riccardo Nencini Riccardo Nencini (born 19 October 1959) is an Italian politician. Nencini was born at Barberino di Mugello, in the province of Florence. He is the nephew of professional cyclist Gastone Nencini, winner of the 1960 Tour de France. A long-ti ...
, 4 MEPs) *
Federation of the Greens The Federation of the Greens (, FdV), frequently referred to as Greens (''Verdi''), was a green political party in Italy. It was formed in 1990 by the merger of the Federation of Green Lists and the Rainbow Greens. The FdV was part of the Eur ...
(FdV,
green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by a com ...
, leader: Grazia Francescato, 2 MEPs) * Democratic Left (SD,
democratic socialist Democratic socialism is a left-wing economic and political philosophy that supports political democracy and some form of a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self-mana ...
, leader: Claudio Fava) * Unite the Left (UlS,
socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...
/
communist Communism () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, di ...
, leaders:
Umberto Guidoni Umberto Guidoni (born 18 August 1954 in Rome) is an Italian astrophysicist, science writer and a former ESA astronaut, being the first European to visit the International Space Station. He is a veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions. He was a ...
, Katia Bellillo, 1 MEP) The
electoral symbol An electoral symbol is a standardised symbol allocated to an independent candidate or political party by a country's election commission for use in election ballots. Usage Symbols are used by parties in their campaigning, and printed on ballot ...
for the 2009 election included the logos of the
Party of European Socialists The Party of European Socialists (PES) is a Social democracy, social democratic European political party. The PES comprises national-level political parties from all the European Economic Area, European economic area states (EEA) plus the Unit ...
(PES), the Federation of the Greens (a member of the European Greens), the European United Left–Nordic Green Left (GUE–NGL). In the election, SL failed to pass the 4% threshold. Despite that, it was decided that SL would become a party.


Road to the new party

In October 2009, during a party congress, the Greens elected a new party leader,
Angelo Bonelli Angelo Bonelli (born 30 July 1962) is an Italian politician. He is the spokesperson of Green Europe. In 1990 he became councillor for the XIII district of the City of Rome and from 1993 to 1994 he was president of this district. He was also Reg ...
, and voted to opt out from the process of the foundation of the new party. However, Francescato and her faction decided to keep supporting SL as Ecologists with Left Ecology Freedom and leave the Greens. SL was also weakened by the split occurred within PS, when the United Socialists, who were opposed to the integration of PS into SL, walked out. Finally in November SL was hit by the sudden opt-out of the whole PS. Since November 2009 SL was thus composed of MpS, SD, UlS, the Ecologists and Socialism and Left, a small minority of PS that wanted to continue the experience of SL. In December SL was officially launched as a party, and Vendola was elected spokesperson. After an important meeting in September in
Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
, where it was decided to add "Ecology" to the party's name, in December 2009 Left Ecology and Freedom (SEL) held a constituent assembly in
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
. The new symbol was presented and Vendola was confirmed as spokesperson. SEL, often in coalition with the PS, did well in the 2010 regional elections, especially in Central and
Southern Italy Southern Italy (, , or , ; ; ), also known as () or (; ; ; ), is a macroregion of Italy consisting of its southern Regions of Italy, regions. The term "" today mostly refers to the regions that are associated with the people, lands or cultu ...
. Overall, SEL won 3.0% of the vote, with the PS at 0.7% and the Greens at 0.2%. In the Apulian election Vendola was re-elected President of the Region and trailed SEL to 9.7%, its best regional result. The party was officially founded in a congress in
Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...
on 22–24 October 2010. Vendola was elected president.


Road to the 2013 general election

In 2011 and 2012, the party offered a strong competition to the Democratic Party (PD) in coalition primaries in many cities. In May 2011 Giuliano Pisapia and
Massimo Zedda Massimo Zedda (born 6 January 1976) is an Italian politician, Mayor of Cagliari from 2011 to 2019 and again since 2024. Biography Son of a Sardinian leader of the Italian Communist Party, Zedda joined Nichi Vendola's Left Ecology Freedom in ...
, who had been supported by SEL in primaries, were elected mayors of
Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...
and
Cagliari Cagliari (, , ; ; ; Latin: ''Caralis'') is an Comune, Italian municipality and the capital and largest city of the island of Sardinia, an Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Italy. It has about 146,62 ...
, respectively. The party gained 5% in Milan, 6% in
Turin Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...
, 10% in
Bologna Bologna ( , , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the List of cities in Italy, seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its M ...
, 6% in
Trieste Trieste ( , ; ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital and largest city of the Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, as well as of the Province of Trieste, ...
, 4% in
Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
and 7% in Cagliari. In occasion of the 2011 referendums of June 2011 (on the abrogation of a law allowing the construction of nuclear power plants in Italy, the abrogation of a law allowing the privatisation of water management and the abrogation of so-called "legitimate impediment"), SEL gave full support to the "yes" committees. In May 2012, Marco Doria, another independent close to SEL, was elected Mayor of
Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...
. In August 2012, Vendola announced his bid for the primary election in order to select the candidate for Prime Minister of the PD-led centre-left coalition in the 2013 general election. On 25 November of the same year, Vendola won 15.6% of the vote and came third behind Democrats
Pier Luigi Bersani Pier Luigi Bersani (; born 29 September 1951) is an Italian politician and was Secretary of the Democratic Party (PD), Italy's leading centre-left party, from 2009 to 2013. Bersani was Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftmanship from 1996 ...
(44.9%) and
Matteo Renzi Matteo Renzi (; born 11 January 1975) is an Italian politician who served as prime minister of Italy from 2014 to 2016. He has been a senator for Florence since 2018. Renzi has served as the leader of Italia Viva (IV) since 2019, having bee ...
(35.5%). In the run-off Vendola supported Bersani, who defeated Renzi 60.9% to 39.1%. SEL selected its candidates for the election through a closed primary in December 2012.


2013 general election

In the 2013 general election, which took place in February 2013, the party was part of the centre-left Italy. Common Good coalition, which supported PD leader
Pier Luigi Bersani Pier Luigi Bersani (; born 29 September 1951) is an Italian politician and was Secretary of the Democratic Party (PD), Italy's leading centre-left party, from 2009 to 2013. Bersani was Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftmanship from 1996 ...
as candidate for
Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
. In the election SEL won 3.2% of the vote, returning 37 deputies and 7 senators. In its
Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol ( ; ; ), often known in English as Trentino-South Tyrol or by its shorter Italian name Trentino-Alto Adige, is an Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Italy, located in the ...
's list SEL included some representatives of the Greens of South Tyrol: one of them, Florian Kronbichler, was elected to the Chamber. On 16 March 2013, Laura Boldrini, an independent member of SEL, was elected President of the Chamber of Deputies. In September 2013, SEL expressed its intention to join the
Party of European Socialists The Party of European Socialists (PES) is a Social democracy, social democratic European political party. The PES comprises national-level political parties from all the European Economic Area, European economic area states (EEA) plus the Unit ...
(PES), however in January 2014, the party finally endorsed
Alexis Tsipras Alexis Tsipras (, ; born 28 July 1974) is a Greek politician who served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019. A left-wing figure, Tsipras was leader of the List of political parties in Greece, Greek political party Syriza from 200 ...
, leader of the Greek Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza) and standard-bearer of the Party of European Left in the
2014 European Parliament election The 2014 European Parliament election was held in the European Union (EU) between 22 and 25 May 2014. It was the 8th parliamentary election since the first direct elections in 1979, and the first in which the European political parties field ...
, as their chosen candidate for
President of the European Commission The president of the European Commission, also known as president of the College of Commissioners is the Head of government, head of the European Commission, the Executive (government), executive branch of the European Union (EU). The president ...
, and contested the election within The Other Europe electoral list.


2014 European Parliament election

Ahead of the
2014 European Parliament election The 2014 European Parliament election was held in the European Union (EU) between 22 and 25 May 2014. It was the 8th parliamentary election since the first direct elections in 1979, and the first in which the European political parties field ...
the party participated in the formation of a left-wing joint list, The Other Europe, which was endorsed by
Alexis Tsipras Alexis Tsipras (, ; born 28 July 1974) is a Greek politician who served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019. A left-wing figure, Tsipras was leader of the List of political parties in Greece, Greek political party Syriza from 200 ...
and included several intellectuals and the
Communist Refoundation Party The Communist Refoundation Party (, PRC) is a Communism, communist List of political parties in Italy, political party in Italy that emerged from a split of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) in 1991. The party's secretary is Maurizio Acerbo, who r ...
. In the election the list obtained 4.0% of the vote and 3 MEPs. Right after the election, the party suffered a severe split in its parliamentary ranks as 12 deputies out of 37, including the floor leader Gennaro Migliore (who was replaced by Nicola Fratoianni and, soon after, Arturo Scotto), left the party over disagreements with the party's line and started to support the Renzi Cabinet. The bulk of the splinters joined forces in Freedom and Rights – European Socialists, while some others directly joined Renzi's Democratic Party.


Dissolution into Italian Left

In November 2015, SEL formed a joint parliamentary group in the Chamber, named
Italian Left Italian Left (, SI) is a left-wing political party in Italy. SI was launched in November 2015 as a parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies (full name: Italian Left – Left Ecology Freedom), including Left Ecology Freedom (SEL), dissid ...
(SI), with splinters from the PD (see Future to the Left) and other parties. In February 2016, SI held its constituent assembly in Rome, where it was announced that SI will be founded as a full-fledged party in December. In March 2016, SI was established as a sub-group within the Mixed Group in the Senate: five SEL senators joined, while other two (including Sardist Luciano Uras) refused to do so. On 17 December 2016, SEL was merged into SI, which would be officially launched as a party in early 2017.


Electoral results


Italian Parliament


European Parliament


Leadership

*Spokesperson/President:The role of spokesperson was renamed as president at the 2010 congress. Nichi Vendola (2009–2016) **Vice President: Maria Luisa Boccia (2014–2016), Fabio Mussi (2014–2016) **Coordinator: Claudio Fava (2009–2013), Francesco Ferrara (2013–2014), Nicola Fratoianni (2014–2016) *President of the National Bureau: Fabio Mussi (2010–2014) *President of the National Assembly: Maria Luisa Boccia (2010–2014), Paolo Cento (2014–2016) *Party Leader in the
Chamber of Deputies The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures. Description Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourb ...
: Gennaro Migliore (2013–2014), Nicola Fratoianni (2014), Arturo Scotto (2014–2016) *Party Leader in the
Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
: Loredana De Petris (2013–2016)


Symbols

File:SINISTRA E LIBERTA' - 1.jpg, 2009 File:SINISTRA ECOLOGIA LIBERTA - 2.jpg, 2009 File:Left Ecology Freedom.png, 2010–2016


External links


Official website


References

{{Authority control 2009 establishments in Italy 2016 disestablishments in Italy Defunct socialist parties in Italy Defunct political parties in Italy Democratic socialist parties in Europe Eco-socialist parties Left-wing politics in Italy Political parties disestablished in 2016 Political parties established in 2009