# Democracy Is Freedom – The Daisy

> Italian political party

**Wikidata**: [Q1141788](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1141788)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_is_Freedom_–_The_Daisy)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/democracy-is-freedom-the-daisy

## Summary
Democracy Is Freedom – The Daisy (Italian: *Democrazia è Libertà – La Margherita*, often shortened to *La Margherita* or *DL*) was a centrist Italian political party active from 2002 to 2007. It emerged as a coalition of Christian democratic, social liberal, and pro-European factions, playing a significant role in Italy's center-left political landscape before merging into the Democratic Party.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name:** Democrazia è Libertà – La Margherita (Democracy Is Freedom – The Daisy)
- **Inception Date:** March 24, 2002
- **Dissolution Date:** October 14, 2007 (merged into the Democratic Party)
- **Political Ideology:** Christian democracy, social liberalism, neoliberalism, European values
- **Political Alignment:** Centrism
- **Headquarters:** Rome, Italy
- **Chairperson:** Francesco Rutelli
- **Member Count (2007):** 430,000
- **Member of:** European Democratic Party
- **Replaced by:** Democratic Party (Partito Democratico)
- **Short Name/Alias:** DL, Margherita, The Daisy
- **Website:** [www.margheritaonline.it](http://www.margheritaonline.it) (Italian)
- **Native Label:** *Democrazia è Libertà - La Margherita*
- **Aliases in Other Languages:**
  - Spanish: *Democracia es Libertad La Margarita*
  - German: *Margeriten-Partei*
  - Japanese: *マルゲリータ・民主主義とは自由* (Marugerīta: Minshushugi towa Jiyū)
  - Chinese: *民主即自由–雏菊党* (Mínzhǔ Jí Zìyóu – Chújú Dǎng)
- **Wikidata ID:** Q206855
- **GND IDs:**
  - 4839206-6 (Margherita)
  - 1041376103 (Democrazia è Libertà - La Margherita)
- **VIAF ID:** 126878095
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n2005047445
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID:** topic/Daisy-Margherita-party
- **Freebase ID:** /m/03j03j
- **Treccani ID:** la-margherita
- **Yale LUX ID:** group/92e43003-b2e1-42fc-9b29-9c8854328bc0
- **Radio Radicale Organizer ID:** 126
- **Wikipedia Availability:** 27 language editions (e.g., English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Russian)
- **Commons Category:** La Margherita
- **Topic’s Main Category:** Category:La Margherita

## FAQs

**What was Democracy Is Freedom – The Daisy?**
Democracy Is Freedom – The Daisy (*La Margherita*) was a centrist Italian political party founded in 2002, merging Christian democratic, social liberal, and pro-European factions. It dissolved in 2007 when it became part of the Democratic Party.

**When was the party founded and dissolved?**
The party was officially established on **March 24, 2002**, and dissolved on **October 14, 2007**, when it merged into the Democratic Party (*Partito Democratico*).

**What were the party’s core ideologies?**
The party advocated for **Christian democracy, social liberalism, neoliberalism, and European values**, positioning itself as a centrist force within Italy’s political spectrum.

**Who led the party?**
**Francesco Rutelli** served as the chairperson of *La Margherita* during its existence.

**How many members did the party have?**
At its peak in **2007**, the party had approximately **430,000 members**.

**Was the party part of any international organizations?**
Yes, *La Margherita* was a member of the **European Democratic Party**, aligning with other centrist and pro-European political groups across Europe.

**What happened to the party after 2007?**
The party **dissolved on October 14, 2007**, merging into the newly formed **Democratic Party**, which became one of Italy’s major center-left political forces.

**What were some of the party’s aliases or nicknames?**
The party was commonly referred to as:
- *Margherita* (The Daisy)
- *DL* (short for *Democrazia è Libertà*)
- *La Margherita* (in Italian)
- *Daisy (Margherita) party* (in English references)

**Where was the party headquartered?**
The party’s headquarters were located in **Rome, Italy**.

**Did the party have a successor?**
Yes, the party was **replaced by the Democratic Party (*Partito Democratico*)**, which absorbed *La Margherita* along with other center-left factions.

## Why It Matters
Democracy Is Freedom – The Daisy played a pivotal role in shaping Italy’s **center-left political coalition** in the early 2000s. As a bridge between **Christian democratic traditions** and **modern social liberalism**, it helped consolidate pro-European and reformist forces in Italian politics. Its merger into the **Democratic Party** in 2007 was a defining moment in Italy’s political realignment, contributing to the creation of a major center-left party that remains influential today. The party’s emphasis on **European integration, social justice, and economic liberalism** reflected broader trends in European politics during its existence.

## Notable For
- **Founding a Major Political Coalition:** *La Margherita* was instrumental in uniting centrist and center-left factions, paving the way for the **Democratic Party**.
- **Pro-European Stance:** The party was a strong advocate for **European integration** and a member of the **European Democratic Party**.
- **Christian Democratic Legacy:** It carried forward the traditions of **Italian Christian democracy** while embracing **social liberalism**.
- **High Membership:** At its peak, the party had **430,000 members**, making it one of Italy’s significant political forces.
- **Centrist Positioning:** Unlike more polarized parties, *La Margherita* occupied a **moderate, centrist space**, appealing to a broad electoral base.
- **Influence on Italian Politics:** Its merger into the **Democratic Party** reshaped Italy’s political landscape, contributing to the dominance of the center-left in subsequent elections.
- **Multilingual Recognition:** The party was widely recognized under various names in different languages, reflecting its international relevance.

## Body

### **Origins and Formation**
Democracy Is Freedom – The Daisy (*Democrazia è Libertà – La Margherita*) was founded on **March 24, 2002**, as a merger of several centrist and center-left political groups in Italy. The party emerged from the **Italian People’s Party (PPI)**, the **Democrats (Dem)**, and other smaller factions, uniting under a platform of **Christian democracy, social liberalism, and pro-European policies**. The name *Margherita* (Italian for "daisy") symbolized the party’s aim to bring together diverse political traditions into a cohesive whole.

### **Political Ideology and Alignment**
The party’s ideology was a blend of:
- **Christian democracy** (rooted in Catholic social teaching and centrist governance)
- **Social liberalism** (emphasizing individual rights, welfare, and progressive reforms)
- **Neoliberalism** (supporting market-based economic policies with social safeguards)
- **European values** (strong advocacy for EU integration and federalism)

Politically, *La Margherita* positioned itself as a **centrist** force, often collaborating with both center-left and center-right coalitions depending on policy alignment. It was a key player in **The Olive Tree** and **The Union** coalitions, which opposed Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right government.

### **Leadership and Structure**
- **Chairperson:** **Francesco Rutelli**, a prominent Italian politician and former Mayor of Rome, led the party throughout its existence.
- **Headquarters:** The party was based in **Rome**, Italy.
- **Membership:** By **2007**, the party had **430,000 registered members**, making it one of the larger political organizations in Italy at the time.

### **International Affiliations**
*La Margherita* was an active member of the **European Democratic Party (EDP)**, a pan-European political party advocating for **centrist, pro-European policies**. This affiliation reinforced its commitment to **EU integration, federalism, and transnational cooperation**.

### **Dissolution and Legacy**
On **October 14, 2007**, *La Margherita* officially dissolved, merging into the newly formed **Democratic Party (*Partito Democratico*)**, alongside other center-left groups like the **Democrats of the Left (DS)**. This merger was a strategic move to create a **unified center-left force** capable of challenging Berlusconi’s dominance in Italian politics.

The **Democratic Party** inherited much of *La Margherita’s* political legacy, including its **centrist policies, pro-European stance, and Christian democratic roots**. Many former *Margherita* leaders, including **Francesco Rutelli**, continued to play significant roles in Italian politics post-merger.

### **Cultural and Linguistic Recognition**
The party was known by various names across different languages, reflecting its international visibility:
- **Italian:** *Democrazia è Libertà – La Margherita*
- **English:** *Democracy Is Freedom – The Daisy*
- **Spanish:** *Democracia es Libertad La Margarita*
- **German:** *Margeriten-Partei*
- **Japanese:** *マルゲリータ・民主主義とは自由* (*Marugerīta: Minshushugi towa Jiyū*)
- **Chinese:** *民主即自由–雏菊党* (*Mínzhǔ Jí Zìyóu – Chújú Dǎng*)

### **Digital and Academic Presence**
- **Website:** [www.margheritaonline.it](http://www.margheritaonline.it) (Italian)
- **Wikidata ID:** Q206855
- **Wikipedia:** Available in **27 languages**, including English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese.
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n2005047445
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Entry:** [Daisy (Margherita) party](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Daisy-Margherita-party)
- **Treccani Encyclopedia ID:** la-margherita
- **VIAF ID:** 126878095
- **GND IDs:**
  - 4839206-6 (Margherita)
  - 1041376103 (Democrazia è Libertà - La Margherita)
- **Freebase ID:** /m/03j03j
- **Radio Radicale Organizer ID:** 126

### **Related Entities and Categories**
- **Replaced by:** Democratic Party (*Partito Democratico*)
- **Member Category:** [Category:Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy politicians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Democracy_is_Freedom_%E2%80%93_The_Daisy_politicians)
- **Commons Category:** [La Margherita](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:La_Margherita)
- **Topic’s Main Category:** [Category:La Margherita](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categoria:La_Margherita)

### **Significance in Italian Political History**
*La Margherita* represented a **critical phase in Italy’s political evolution**, bridging the gap between **traditional Christian democracy** and **modern social liberalism**. Its merger into the **Democratic Party** marked the end of an era for standalone centrist parties but ensured its ideas lived on in Italy’s broader center-left movement. The party’s emphasis on **European unity, social justice, and economic pragmatism** remains influential in contemporary Italian politics.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013