From Crisis To Dictatorship Flashcards
With the support of conservatives and Liberals, how did Mussolini push to increase his power?
-press censorship July 1924.
-assemblance of opposition parties banned August 1924.
Why and how did liberals start to oppose Mussolini
Unease over Matteoti affair continued. Liberals were starting to turn against Mussolini, and were opposed to press censorship – joined the opposition in November 1924.
What happened in December 1924?
-December 1924: Mussolini presented with ultimatum by leading Fascists, concerned over the uncertainty caused by the Matteoti affair and over the government’s lack of radicalism.
-Mussolini accepted their demands – in a speech to Parliament on 3 January 1925, Mussolini accepted responsibility for Fascist actions to date, but also signalled that he would now enhance his power.
How did the dictatorship begin to fall into place
-December 1925 opposition parties and trade unions banned
-Press censorship tightened.
-secret police established (OVRA).
-A special court was formed to try political crimes.
-Fascist control over local government was increased by replacing elected mayors with nominated officials – ‘podestas’.
January 1926, Mussolini granted right to issue decrees carrying full force of law without consulting Parliament.
-1928: King lost the right to select the Prime Minister. In future, a list of possible candidates would be drawn up by the Grand Council, and the King would make a selection from this list.
