Raffaele Fitto announced Tuesday
that he has launched a new association, the Conservatori e
Riformisti (Conservatives and Reformists), after formalising his
split from Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia at the weekend.
The former minister and Puglia governor is a centre-right
MEP and he joined the European Conservatives and Reformists
(ECR) group, which the British Tories belong to, in the European
Parliament after leaving FI.
"We have formed a new association called Conservatives and
Reformists that is inspired by the European Parliament group,"
Fitto told a press conference.
After repeated clashes in recent months with FI bigwigs as
the group dropped in the polls, Fitto effectively broke ranks
with the leadership last month when he decided to support an
alternative candidate to FI's official runner in his Puglia
homeland in this month's regional elections.
Previously Fitto was part of the group of FI figures
considered closest and most loyal to Berlusconi.
But last week he said that Berlusconi now represented "old
politics that has served its time" and was looking to the "model
of the liberal policies that took (British Prime Minister David)
Cameron to victory".
Fitto failed to outline how many lawmakers were supporting
his new movement, saying what counted was the "political
outlook" being created.
He also tried to bury the bitterness with Berlusconi, who
said FI was better off without him.
"Forza Italia is a closed chapter," Fitto told reporters.
"Our decision was not made out of rancour, and it would be
a mistake to continue the controversy".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
