Where Are They Going? Intra-Party Power Shifts in the Italian Parties (2013-2025)

Over the past thirty years, the Italian party system has experienced multiple changes in the relevant actors competing to gain access to the representative institutions. The continuous modifications occurred in party names, brands and organizational templates make the Italian party population a very interesting case to observe variance in parties' choices. The aim of this paper is to analyze how the crucial dilemmas of intra-party power distribution between the three faces of party organizations has been addressed by a sample of 5 relevant parties (Partito Democratico, Forza Italia, Fratelli d'Italia, Lega, Movimento 5 Stelle), from 2013 to present days. By building on the rationale, methods and data of the Political Party Database Project we want to assess whether patterns of convergence possibly emerge towards the empowerment of the party in public office at the expenses of the party in central office, in the face of a supposed decline of the party on the ground. We expect to find higher convergence concerning the decreasing figures of party members; a reduction of powers accorded to party central organs; as well as an increased relevance to party leaders and the party in public office.