Its symbol was a green star surmounted by an image of Italian unification hero Giuseppe Garibaldi.

The right-wing of the PSI opposed the coalition, left the party, and organized a separate list as Socialist Unity; this group later became the Italian Democratic Socialist Party (PSDI).

The election of 1948 was perhaps the most important in the history of the Italian Republic, as the choice of future alliance with the United States or with the Soviet Union was at issue.

[8] Following the victory of Christian Democracy (DC) with 48.5%, Italy became a founding member of NATO in 1949.

Despite the loss, the PCI established itself as the main opposition to the DC and went on to become the largest Communist party in Western Europe.