Veneto for the European People's Party

Infobox_Italian_political_party
name_english = Veneto for the European People's Party

leader = Giorgio Carollo
leader1_title =
leader1_name =
leader2_title =
leader2_name =
leader3_title =
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foundation = 2005
dissolution =
headquarters = Via Della Meccanica, 22
36100 Vicenza
newspaper = none
membership_year= 2006
membership = 18.000
ideology = Christian democracy
coalition = "none"
international = "none"
european = "none"
europarl = European People's Party–European Democrats
website = http://www.venetoperilppe.it
colorcode = blue

Veneto for the European People's Party ("Veneto per il Partito Popolare Europeo", VPPE) is a regional christian-democratic party based in Veneto.

History

It was founded in 2005 as a trans-party political movement by Giorgio Carollo, both members of Forza Italia and formerly members of Christian Democracy, alongside with members of other members of Forza Italia, Democracy is Freedom – Daisy, Union of Christian and Centre Democrats and UDEUR Populars.

At the beginning VPPE members could be part both of their original party and of VPPE. Then the political movement was organized as an independent party, but some members, as Renzo Marangon, regional minister of Territorial Affairs, continue to have a double affiliation.

In 2006, Raffaele Grazia was the only one of the original group to leave Forza Italia in the Regional Council, thus forming the "Veneto for the EPP" group.

For the 28 May 2007 provincial election of Vicenza, Giorgio Carollo was candidate for President with the support of parties both from the centre-left and the centre-right: Italy of Values, UDEUR Populars, Liga Fronte Veneto, Christian Democracy, some citizen' lists and his own Veneto for the EPP, which is part of the majority supporting the regional government of Giancarlo Galan in the Regional Council. He scored 9.9%, while VPPE got the 3.5% and elected 2 provincial councillors.

Even if the result of Vicenza was a little disappointing for VPPE, it led to an awkward federation with Christian Democracy and Liga Fronte Veneto. The pact between the three parties, which could become a major political actor in Veneto, was signed on 9 October 2007 by Giorgio Carollo, Raffaele Grazia, Giuseppe Pizza and Fabrizio Comencini. Following this agreement, Carollo became leader of the Christian Democracy in the North-East, while Grazia received the mandate of coordinator of the coalition for Veneto. Anyway the coalition was soon disbanded.

The party supported the Union of the Centre of Pier Ferdinando Casini in the 2008 general election.

Leadership

*President: Giorgio Carollo (2005–...)
*Coordinator: Raffaele Grazia (2006–...)

External links

* [http://www.venetoperilppe.it Official website]
* [http://www.venetoppe.it Group in the Regional Council]
* [http://www.carollo.info Personal website of Giorgio Carollo]