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Sardinian Action Party

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Sardinian Action Party
Partito Sardo d'Azione (Italian)
Partidu Sardu (Sardinian)
SecretaryChristian Solinas
PresidentAntonio Moro
FounderEmilio Lussu
Founded17 April 1921
HeadquartersViale Regina Margherita 6, Cagliari
NewspaperIl Solco
Ideology
Political positionRight-wing[6]
Historical:
Centre-left
National affiliationPolitical party:
League
Coalition:
Centre-right coalition
European affiliationEuropean Free Alliance (1981–2020, expelled)[7]
Colours  Black   Red
Chamber of Deputies
0 / 400
Senate
0 / 200
European Parliament
0 / 76
Regional Council of Sardinia
0 / 60
Conference of Regions
0 / 21
Party flag
Website
www.psdaz.net

The Sardinian Action Party (Sardinian: Partidu Sardu, Italian: Partito Sardo d'Azione, PSd'Az or PSdA) is a Sardinian nationalist, regionalist[8] and separatist[9] political party in Sardinia founded by Sardinian anti-fascist intellectual Emilio Lussu. While being traditionally part of the Sardinian centre-left, the party has also sided with the centre-right coalition and, more recently, with the League.

The PSd'Az is one of the oldest stateless nationalist parties active in Europe that promotes autonomy towards the ideal of independence.[10][11] As such, the party was a founding member of the European Free Alliance in 1984,[12][13] but was expelled in 2020 because of its alliance with the League.[7][14]

Christian Solinas, who has led the party since 2015, was elected senator in the 2018 general election and President of Sardinia in the 2019 regional election, the first Sardist to do so since Mario Melis in 1984–1989, leading a centre-right coalition.

History

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The party was founded in April 1921. However, it was soon banned under fascism. The party was re-organized after World War II by Emilio Lussu, secretary for Southern Italy of the Action Party during the war, and other veterans from the Sassari brigade and anti-fascists,[12][15] a social-democratic group of the Italian resistance movement. Lussu left the party in 1948 to found the short-lived Sardinian Socialist Action Party (PSd'AzS), which joined the Italian Socialist Party in 1949, along with many other PSd'Az members.[12][16] Consequently, the PSd'Az started to cooperate with Christian Democracy and was quite a stable until the 1980s.[12]

The PSd'Az and the PSd'AzS won 10.5% and 6.6% respectively in the first regional election in 1949.[12]

After a decline in term of votes in the 1960s and 1970s, the party re-gained strength in the 1980s (13.8% in 1984 and 12.4% in 1989). Following these results, Sardist Mario Melis was President of Sardinia between 1984 and 1989 at the head of a five-party coalition composed also by the Italian Communist Party, the Italian Socialist Party, the Italian Democratic Socialist Party and the Italian Republican Party. This was the highest point in party history: the PSd'Az was represented in the Italian Parliament from 1983 to 1994, and Melis was a MEP for the Rainbow Group from 1989 to 1994.[17]

The party was affiliated to The Olive Tree during the 1996 general election.[18] However, the party congress rejected a continuation of the alliance ahead the 2001 general election.[19]

In the 2004 Sardinian regional election, the PSd'Az won 3.9% of the vote and 2 regional councillors.

In the 2006 general election, leader Giacomo Sanna, due to an electoral pact named Pact for the Autonomies, was a candidate of the Northern League (LN) for the Senate in Lombardy, but failed to get elected.

The party ran by itself in the 2008 general election, winning a mere 1.5% in the Region.[20]

In the 2009 regional election, the PSd'Az joined the centre-right coalition, provoking the split of the party's left that formed the Red Moors.[12] Cappellacci won and the PSd'Az won 4.3% of the vote (having its strongholds in the traditionally left-wing Provinces of Nuoro and Carbonia-Iglesias, where it gained 7.5 and 7.1%, respectively)[21] and four regional councillors plus one (Giacomo Sanna) elected in Cappellacci's regional list.[22] The Red Moors won 2.5% and one councillor. In the 2010 provincial elections the party was strongest in Nuoro (12.8%), Sassari (6.9%), Olbia-Tempio (6.7%) and Cagliari (6.4%).[23]

In 2013, the PSd'Az broke with Cappellacci and the centre-right,[24] but re-joined the coalition in time for the 2014 regional election. In the election, Cappellacci was defeated and the PSd'Az won 4.7% of the vote and two regional councillors.[25]

In the run-up of the 2018 general election, the party formed once again an electoral pact with the Northern League,[26][27][28][29] which presented itself as "League" all around the country. The alliance managed to get 10.8% of the vote and Christian Solinas, leader of the PSd'Az, was elected to the Senate,[30] while Guido De Martini, a local activist of the League,[31] was elected to the Chamber. This marked the return of the PSd'Az to the Italian Parliament after 22 years.[32] In August 2018, the party was suspended from the European Free Alliance because of its alliance with the League.[33]

In the 2019 regional election, Solinas was elected President of Sardinia with 47.8% of the vote, while the PSd'Az won 9.9%.

In the 2024 regional election, Solinas did not stand for re-election and the centre-right lost the election, with the PSd'Az reduced to 5.4% and three regional councillors. After the election, Solinas was re-elected as its leader during a congress.[34][35] As a result, two regional councillors out of three left the party.[36][37] In September, all three PSd'Az elects joined Forza Italia.[38][39]

[edit]

The party has failed to regain the electoral support it enjoyed upon its foundation (e.g. 36% of the popular vote in 1921 general election).[40]

The party has been mostly marginal in the Sardinan political scene since the post-war period and this marginalisation has increased with the Italian establishment of a bipolar political system in the 1990s.[41]

The electoral results of the PSd'Az in regional and Chamber of Deputies elections in Sardinia since 1946 are shown in the chart below. For 1953 only the regional election's result is shown. In the general elections of 1972, 1976, 1979 and 2006 the party did not run lists for the Chamber of Deputies.

% of popular voteElections00.030.060.090.120.151946195719681979199020012012% of popular voteElectoral results of the Sardinian Action Party
View source data.

Election results

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Italian Parliament

[edit]
Chamber of Deputies
Election Leader Votes % Seats +/–
1921
Camillo Bellieni
 35,108 0.53
4 / 535
–
1924
Salvatore Sale
 24,059 0.34
2 / 535
Decrease 2
1946
Giovanni Battista Melis
 78,554 0.34
2 / 556
–
1948 61,928 0.24
1 / 574
Decrease 1
1953 27,231 0.10
0 / 590
–
1958 173,227 (with MC–PCd'I) 0.59
0 / 596
–
1968 27,228 0.09
0 / 630
–
1979
Carlo Sanna
 17,673 0.05
0 / 630
–
1983 91,923 0.25
1 / 630
Increase 1
1987 169,978 0.44
2 / 630
Increase 1
1992
Giorgio Ladu
 154,621 (with Federalism) 0.39
1 / 630
Decrease 1
1996
Lorenzo Palermo
 38,002 0.10
0 / 630
Decrease 1
2001
Giacomo Sanna
 34,412 (with SN) 0.09
0 / 630
–
2006 Into LN–MpA
0 / 630
–
2008
Efisio Trincas
 14,856 0.04
0 / 630
–
2013
Giovanni Colli
 18,585 0.05
0 / 630
–
2018 Into Lega Nord
0 / 630
–
2022 Into Lega
0 / 400
–
Senate of the Republic
Election Leader Votes % Seats +/–
1948
Giovanni Battista Melis
 65,743 0.29
1 / 237
Increase 1
1953 34,484 0.14
0 / 237
Decrease 1
1958 45,952 0.18
0 / 246
–
1963 34,954 0.13
0 / 315
–
1968 25,891 0.09
0 / 315
–
1972 189,534 (with PCI–PSIUP) 0.63
0 / 315
–
1979
Carlo Sanna
 15,766 0.05
0 / 315
–
1983 76,797 0.25
1 / 315
Increase 1
1987 124,266 0.38
1 / 315
–
1992
Giorgio Ladu
 174,713 (with Federalism) 0.52
0 / 315
Decrease 1
1994
Giancarlo Acciaro
 88,225 0.27
0 / 315
–
1996
Lorenzo Palermo
 421,331 (with The Olive Tree) 1.19
1 / 315
Increase 1
2001
Giacomo Sanna
 32,822 (with SN) 0.10
0 / 315
Decrease 1
2006 16,733 0.06
0 / 315
–
2008
Efisio Trincas
 15,292 0.05
0 / 315
–
2013
Giovanni Colli
 18,602 0.06
0 / 315
–
2018 Into Lega Nord
1 / 315
Increase 1
2022 Into Lega
0 / 200
Decrease 1

European Parliament

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– EP Group
1984[a] Carlo Sanna 193,430 (10th) 0.55
1 / 81
 New RBW
1989[a] 207,739 (12th) 0.60
1 / 81
 Steady 0 RBW
1994 Did not contest
0 / 87
 Decrease 1 –
1999[b] Antonio Delitala 61,185 (21st) 0.2
0 / 87
 Steady 0
2004[c] Giacomo Sanna 159,098 (18th) 0.49
0 / 78
 Steady 0
2009 Did not contest
0 / 72
 Steady 0
2014 Christian Solinas Into Lega Nord
0 / 73
 Steady 0
2019 Into Lega
0 / 76
 Steady 0
2024 Into Lega
0 / 76
 Steady 0
  1. 1 2 Run as part of the Federalism coalition.
  2. ↑ Run in a joint list with LAV and CU.
  3. ↑ Run in a joint list with LAL, LFV and UfS.

Regional Council of Sardinia

[edit]
Election Leader Votes % Seats +/–
1949
Piero Soggiu
 60,525 10.4
7 / 60
Increase 7
1953
Giovanni Battista Melis
 43,215 7.0
4 / 65
Decrease 3
1957
Pietro Mastino
 40,214 6.0
5 / 70
Increase 1
1961
Giovanni Battista Melis
 50,039 (with PRI) 7.2
5 / 72
–
1965 44,621 (with PRI) 6.4
5 / 72
–
1969 33,220 4.4
3 / 74
Decrease 2
1974
Michele Columbu
 24,780 3.1
1 / 75
Decrease 2
1979
Carlo Sanna
 30,238 3.3
3 / 80
Increase 2
1984 136,720 13.8
12 / 81
Increase 9
1989 128,025 12.4
10 / 80
Decrease 2
1994
Giancarlo Acciaro
 47,000 5.1
4 / 64
Decrease 6
1999
Antonio Delitala
 38,422 4.5
3 / 64
Decrease 1
2004
Giacomo Sanna
 32,859 3.9
3 / 85
–
2009
Giovanni Colli
 35,428 4.3
4 / 80
Increase 1
2014 31,886 4.7
3 / 60
Decrease 1
2019 69,964 9.9
8 / 60
Increase 5
2024 37,341 5.4
3 / 60
Decrease 5

Leadership

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Symbols

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References

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  1. ↑ Hassan, Gerry (2009). Modern SNP: From Protest to Power. Edinburgh University Press. p. 199. ISBN 9780748642113. Likewise, the constitutional aims of the nationalist Sardinian Action Party (Psd'Az) are more subtle than simply demanding independence.
  2. ↑ Alcalde, Ángel (2017). War Veterans and Fascism in Interwar Europe. Cambridge University Press. p. 70. ISBN 9781107198425.
  3. ↑ "Gianfranco Contu, biografo delle "comunità dentro gli ideali", di Gianfranco Murtas | Fondazione Sardinia".
  4. 1 2 "Parties and Elections in Europe". Archived from the original on 2018-05-31. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  5. ↑ "Mazzini e le radici del sardismo - la Nuova Sardegna". Archived from the original on 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  6. ↑ "Il Partito sardo d'Azione nasce il 17 aprile 1921 dal Movimento dei combattenti, riunito a Oristano per preparare le imminenti elezioni politiche. Ma l'evento è preparato da un lungo fermento..." (in Italian). La Nuova. 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  7. 1 2 "Efa-Ale (European Free Alliance) expels the Sardinian Action Party". L'Unione Sarda. 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  8. ↑ John A. Agnew (2002). Place and Politics in Modern Italy. University of Chicago Press. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-226-01051-9.
  9. ↑ Sardinian Action Party Statute - About the party: Art.1: Il “Partidu Sardu – Partito Sardo d’Azione” è la libera associazione di coloro che si propongono, attraverso l’azione politica, di affermare la sovranità del popolo sardo sul proprio territorio, e di condurre la Nazione Sarda all’indipendenza.
  10. ↑ Elias (A.) et Tronconi (F.), From protest to power. Autonomist parties and the challenges of representation, Vienna, Braumüller, 2011
  11. ↑ "Sardinians - World Directory of Minorities". Faqs.org.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Eve Hepburn (2010). "Explaining Failure: Sardinian Nationalism". In Eve Hepburn (ed.). New Challenges for Stateless Nationalist and Regionalist Parties. Routledge. pp. 116–121. ISBN 978-1-317-96596-1.
  13. ↑ "30 years EFA" (PDF). E-f-a.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  14. ↑ Izzo, Riccardo (2020-10-05). "Il Partito Sardo d'Azione espulso dagli autonomisti europei dell'European Free Alliance". Termometro Politico (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  15. ↑ Antonio Sorge (2015). Legacies of Violence: History, Society, and the State in Sardinia. University of Toronto Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-4426-2174-9.
  16. ↑ "Partito Sardo d'Azione - PSD'Az - P.S. d'Az". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  17. ↑ "Mario MELIS". Europarl.europa.eu.
  18. ↑ James Newell (2002). The Italian General Election of 2001: Berlusconi's Victory. Manchester University Press. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-7190-6100-4.
  19. ↑ Eve Hepburn (2010). Using Europe: Territorial Party Strategies in a Multi-level System. Manchester University Press. pp. 133–134. ISBN 978-1-84779-764-3.
  20. ↑ "Ministero dell'Interno - Elezioni della Camera dei Deputati". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  21. ↑ "Risultati per circoscrizione-Regione Autonoma della Sardegna". Regione.sardegna.it.
  22. ↑ "Elezioni del XIV Consiglio regionale e del Presidente della Regione . Proclamati Eletti Dall' Ufficio Centrale Regionale" (PDF). Regione.sardegna.it. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  23. ↑ "Ministry of the Interior". Archived from the original on 2010-04-01.
  24. ↑ "Sardegna Oggi: Notizie e informazione regionale". Sardegnaoggi.it.
  25. ↑ "Sardegna - Elezioni Regionali del 16 febbraio 2014". Repubblica.it.
  26. ↑ "Lega-Psd'Az, arriva l'accordo: Salvini a Cagliari - Politica". L'Unione Sarda.it. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  27. ↑ "LEGA - PSD'AZ, I NOSTRI OBIETTIVI: 10 PUNTI PER LA SARDEGNA". Sito Ufficiale del Partidu Sardu - Partito Sardo d'Azione. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  28. ↑ "Salvini: "Nel 2018 Italia federale". Accordo Lega-Partito Sardo d'Azione". Affaritaliani.it. January 24, 2018.
  29. ↑ Rojch, Luca (23 January 2018). "Psd'Az: "Noi e la Lega? Giusto così. Proteste insignificanti" - Cronaca". la Nuova Sardegna. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  30. ↑ "Parlamentari al primo mandato e uscenti che tornano a Roma: i 25 eletti". Sardiniapost.it. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  31. ↑ "Sardegna Reporter - Ultime Notizie Sardegna". Sardegna Reporter. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  32. ↑ "Psd'Az di nuovo in Parlamento dopo 22 anni grazie a Salvini: eletti Solinas e De Martini". Sardiniapost.it. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  33. ↑ "Member Parties". EFA - European Free Alliance. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  34. ↑ "PSD'Az, Solinas e Moro riconfermati tra le polemiche. Maieli e Chessa si autosospendono". 21 April 2024.
  35. ↑ "Congresso del PSD'Az, confermati Solinas e Moro tra le polemiche".
  36. ↑ "Chessa e Maieli lasciano ufficialmente il PSD'Az: «Grande rammarico ma dimissioni irrevocabili»". 11 May 2024.
  37. ↑ "Ora è ufficiale: Gianni Chessa e Piero Maieli lasciano il PSD'Az".
  38. ↑ "Tajani, consiglieri sardi del PSD'Az aderiscono a FI - Ultima ora - Ansa.it". 9 September 2024.
  39. ↑ "Chessa, Maieli e Marras dal PSD'Az a Forza Italia, Tajani: «Frutto di ragionamento politico»". 9 September 2024.
  40. ↑ Hepburn, E. (2009) 'Explaining Failure: the Highs and Lows of Sardinian Nationalism', Regional & Federal Studies, 19(4/5)
  41. ↑ Hepburn, Eve (1 December 2009). "Explaining Failure: the Highs and Lows of Sardinian Nationalism" (PDF). Regional & Federal Studies. 19 (4–5): 595–618. doi:10.1080/13597560903310378. hdl:20.500.11820/e807c32f-53f3-49e9-8664-67e5846ecc7a. S2CID 153455408.
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