Parliamentary compromise and coercion

Question 1

nature of Mussolini’s appointment

Answer 1

• Unclear nature of appointment
• Constitutional or violent takeover?
• Culmination of his work or beginning of fascist revolution?

Question 2

dual strategy

Answer 2

• Dual strategy made things different. Squads demand further revolution and greater reward for helping him, but
  Mussolini was wary- wanted to work with conservative elite and king to consolidate his role as PM better.

Question 3

fascist deputies

Answer 3

• Italian PMs did not last long; only 35 fascist deputies in parliament.
• Mussolini appointed himself foreign minister and minister for the interior.

Question 4

goals

Answer 4

• Appointed orthodox economist, Alberto De’Stefani (minister of finance) to gain support of conservative
  industrialists who thought Mussolini would not cause radical economic changes.

Question 5

church

Answer 5

• Mussolini gained their trust (increased clerical pay and reinstating crucifixes in schools)

Question 6

28 oct 1922

Answer 6

• 28 October: Mussolini announced compromise between ANI and PNF

Question 7

February 1923

Answer 7

• February 1923: ANI absorbed into fascist party; took away rival and designating PNF as only party representing
  nationalism.
• Appointed PPI member Stefano Cavazzoni as minister of work and welfare, and he encouraged party to accept
  collaboration with Mussolini.

Question 8

july 1923

Answer 8

• July 1923: Leader of PPI (Luigi Sturzo) resigned as his party was too absorbed into PNF.
• Mussolini’s pro-Catholic policies encouraged Vatican support, took away support from PPI.

Question 9

Mussolini’s strengths

Answer 9

• Clever political appointments, deal making
• Maiden speech as PM (16 Nov 1922) was on offers to work with parliament and threats of violence to anyone
  who challenged him (strength of squads and violence in 1922)

Question 10

emergency powers

Answer 10

• Mussolini told deputies he required a year of emergency powers to reform Italy politically and economically
• Warned parliament he had 300,000 men ready to take violent action against deputies
• ‘I could have barred up parliament and formed a government of only Fascists. I could have: but I wanted not to,
  at least not for the moment.’
• Parliament approved year-long emergency powers (306:116 votes); Mussolini could not be removed and had
  full power to govern and raise taxes