 In the 2006 general election the party was affiliated to The Union, the centre-left coalition led by Romano Prodi, and its 0.1% (1.6% in Lombardy) was decisive for the coalition's victory over the centre-right House of Freedoms coalition.Subsequently De Paoli was appointed undersecretary in Prodi II Cabinet.In the 2008 general election the LAL won a mere 0.8% for the Senate in Lombardy.