Forza Italia is a right-wing political party, inspired by liberalism and conservative catholic tradition; founded by Silvio Berlusconi in January 1994 together with other notables of the Fininvest group.
After the political crisis and corruption scandals, denounced by the “clean hands” investigation, which overwhelms the entire ruling class of the so-called ‘First Republic’ in Italy, during the season of mafia attacks on judges and institutional figures; for the political elections of March 1994, a company-party enters the scene, led by the media leader, which widely uses the Mediaset television networks and editorial properties for the electoral campaign, from which it emerges as the winner with 21% of the votes.
The first government led by Silvio Berlusconi, allied in coalition with the Northern League, the Christian Democratic Union (UDC) and with the post-fascists of Gianfranco Fini’s Alleanza Nazionale (AN), is born.
After a first government crisis and alternating with the center-left coalition, in the 2001 elections Berlusconi gains 30% of the votes and shortly before the G8 in Genoa begins his second term, which will last until 2006.
The populist character of its “tele-democracy” leads to growing conflicts of interest and clashes with the judiciary, which investigates on corruption and embezzlement. The dominant idea is the patriarchal one of the entrepreneur, who leads the state as a company manager, with a male-dominated and strongly anti-communist rhetoric.
At the European level Forza Italia is part of the Popular Party; while since 2006 many coalition formulas have been adopted in an attempt to remain in power, expanding the political field in the “People of Freedom” until 2009.
Berlusconi’s fourth and last government ends in November 2011, with the dismissal by the President of the Republic Napolitano, after the lack of votes in Parliament in support of his majority, also due to growing personal scandals and numerous corruption trials against the premier .