On 30 January 2008, Bruno Tabacci and Mario Baccini announced that they were leaving the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC) in order to form a new centrist party.

Tabacci and Baccini wanted to support the formation of a government led by Franco Marini, which would approve a new electoral law on the German model.

[2][3] Many leading figures joined the new party, notably Savino Pezzotta (former leader of the Italian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions, who was appointed president), Gerardo Bianco and Alberto Monticone (Popular Italy),[4] Gian Guido Folloni (a former minister), Elvio Ubaldi (a former Mayor of Parma), Gianni Rivera and Beniamino Donnici (both MEPs).

In the election, the UdC obtained 5.6% of the vote and 36 deputies, including Baccini, Tabacci and Pezzotta.

A few weeks after the election, Baccini announced his vote of confidence to Berlusconi IV Cabinet and his resignation from secretary of the party.