DCA was founded on 25 October 2004 by a split from the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC) led by Gianfranco Rotondi, who wanted closer ties with Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and who criticised the political line of the then-leader of UDC Marco Follini.

Two of these deputies were members of DCA, while two more candidates were elected on the list of Forza Italia.

Gianfranco Rotondi was too elected Senator on the list of Forza Italia, along with his colleague and deputy Mario Cutrufo.

In 2009 the DCA was eventually merged into the PdL and its members launched a network of circles named after the party's newspaper, La Discussione, led by Giampiero Catone.

[3] In October 2012, the balance of accounts of the People of Freedom showed that DCA had received €96,000 of financial support from PdL.