In this election, Berlusconi decided to open the door to Gianfranco Fini’s right-wing National Alliance, with which he founded a new group, People of Freedom – the only party allied with Umberto Bossi’s Northern League – in an effort to ensure that the government is backed by an even stronger and more cohesive core party. The Catholics of the Union of Christian and Center Democrats and the post-fascist right of Francesco Storace have left the coalition.