[8] Originally the Dini List – Italian Renewal (Lista Dini – Rinnovamento Italiano),[9] the party was founded in 1996 by Lamberto Dini,[10] the outgoing Prime Minister, along with former Christian Democrats, Liberals, Socialists, Republicans and Social Democrats.

The party joined The Olive Tree centre-left coalition led by Romano Prodi.

In the 1996 Italian general election, RI gave hospitality in its electoral lists to the Italian Socialists (SI), the Segni Pact (PS) and the Democratic Italian Movement (MID).

[11] The Dini List won 4.3% of the vote, winning 26 seats at the Chamber: The list also won 11 seats at the Senate: After the election Dini became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Treu minister of Labour in the Prodi I Cabinet.

RI members in DL formed a faction within the party, named simply Renewal, consisting of around 10% of the party members.