Repression & constitutional amendments 1925-26

Question 1

What did Mussolini establish in January 1925?

Answer 1

He established a committee to reform the constitution.

Question 2

What significant action did Mussolini take in December 1925?

Answer 2

• title of Prime Minister of Italy → Head of Government and Duce of Fascism
• parliament no longer able to remove the prime minister through a vote of no confidence

Question 3

What power was granted to Mussolini in January 1926?

Answer 3

• He was granted the right to issue decrees carrying the full force of the law - he could now make laws without parliament

Question 4

What change occurred regarding local government under Mussolini?

Answer 4

• Fascist control of local government was increased by replacing elected mayors with nominated officials, known as podestas

Question 5

What change occurred in 1928 regarding the selection of the Prime Minister?

Answer 5

The King lost the right to select the PM; a shortlist would be drawn up by the Fascist Grand Council from which he could select

Question 6

In 1924, there was ……. to Mussolini at this point

Answer 6

• viable alternative

Question 7

What happened on 4th August 1925

Answer 7

• socialist deputy Tito Zaniboni was arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate Mussolini

Question 8

What happeed immeidately after Zaniboni assassination plot comes out

Answer 8

• banned Zaniboni’s political party, the Partito Socialista Unitario (PSU)
• introduced a new press law, which meant all journalism had to be supervised and approved by the state
• introduced a new law giving the gov’t the power to sack any public employee whose actions either in or out of work went against the PNF

Question 9

Following another assassination attempt against Mussolini on 31 October 1926, the final confirmation of…..

Answer 9

• the dictatorship was established, with all political parties apart from the PNF banned

Question 10

How was the final confirmation of the dictatorship established 31 October 1926

Answer 10

• Special Tribunal for the Defence of the State was set up for the prosecution of anitfascists, who would have no right of appeal
• Aventine deputies permanently excluded from parliament
• Communist parliamentarians who had not joined the Aventine Secession were banned and their leader, Antonio Gramsci, arrested

Question 11

What happened to most opposition leaders

Answer 11

• most opposition leaders, esimated 10,000 fled into exile in France & Elsewhere - their Italian citizenship was withdrawn & their property confiscated under the new fascist legislation

Question 12

Mussolini’s final move was to ….

Answer 12

establish control over the regions

Question 13

Establish control over the regions

Elected local governments….

Answer 13

…abolished, and mayors replaced with a new position called podestà, who were appointed by local prefects

Question 14

Establish control over the regions

Prefects

Answer 14

Prefects, accountable directly to Mussolini, would hold the most powerful positions in the Italian regions, and not the ras

Question 15

Establish control over the regions

What was the hierachy of the prefects

Answer 15

• New PNF secretary Augusto Turati stated that in any conflict between the ras and the prefects, the prefects would come first → Mussolini was dictator both of the party and of Italy - it was his dictatorship, not that of the radical fascists

Question 16

How did Mussolini hold alls pects of power over the country party & Ras by 1926

Answer 16

• By the end of 1926, Italy was to all extents and purposes a one party, police state, with opposition banned and persecuted
• However, it was not the dictatorship the ras had hoped for when they pressured Mussolini to act at the end of 1924
• Mussolini had created an extremely personalised form of dictatorship, and he would dominate both Italy and the PNF in his role as ‘ll Duce’