Alleanza Nazionale (original) (raw)

A right-wing Italian party formed from most of the former Italian Social Movement (Movimento Sociale Italiano, MSI) and conservative elements of the former Christian Democrats, the National Alliance (Alleanza Nazionale, AN) was created in 1994.

The party is led by Gianfranco Fini, formerly Youth Front leader of the MSI (widely dubbed Italy's neo-fascist party) and successor as MSI leader to Giorgio Almirante. It has taken part in the first two coalition governments (1994 and 2001-) of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, in the second of which Fini was vice-premier.

Other well-known party members have included Alessandra Mussolini (she left the party in November 2003), granddaughter of the former Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini whose sympathisers formed the MSI following Fascism's defeat in World War II. Distinguishing itself from the MSI, the AN characterises itself as "post-Fascist" and proclaims its commitment to constitutionalism, democracy and political pluralism.