The Acerbo Law and the Matteotti crisis Flashcards
Mussolini
Held general election as power over parliament and ras now tightened, to provide PNF with
parliamentary mandate
the acerbo law
Proportional representation made it difficult for one party to have majority. This law
made that 2/3 of seats go to party with 25% of vote. Created to bring stability to Italy by guaranteeing more
coherent parliament. PCI and PSI opposed Law, but Liberal elites (Giolitti) king and Vatican supported it, so it
pressured PPI to abstain from voting.
fascist demonstrations
In Tuscany and Umbria, threatened violence if bill did not pass. Mussolini
encouraged this. Acerbo law passed.
april 1924 election
ELECTION: 6 April 1924. Violent campaign (blackshirts), destroyed opposition clubs and murdered PSI
candidate. Mussolini tried to suppress violence as he required legitimate victory to cement his power. PNF
victory helped by choice of prominent liberals to have themselves included on electoral list.
election results
Opposition: PCI,
PSI, PPI, liberals who refused to work with fascists; unable to agree to leader of united opposition. Fascists
gained 66.3% (Acerbo Law irrelevant). 35 -> 275 fascist deputies. Victory due to weakness of opposition,
electoral support of liberals and genuine belief Mussolini was strong leader.
PSI, PCI, PPI
Weakened but still held 80 seats between them.
GIACOMO MATTEOTTI
Murder of PCI leader lead to end of parliamentary democracy.
30 May 1924
MATTEOTTI SPEECH: On denouncing violence and corruption during election. Asserted fascists had won due to violence and were determined to establish dictatorship. There were rumours Matteotti had amassed a large file on fascist party corruption and was about to make it public.
10 June 1924
MATTEOTTI KIDNAPPED: Walked towards parliament. Body found on 16 August in shallow grave in Rome. Witnesses became aware of what happened even before body discovered; saw Mussolini’s press secretary’ car which Matteotti was dragged into.
12 June 1924
LEADER OF KIDNAPPING ARRESTED: Amerigo Dumini, head of fascist terror squad.
Pressure on Mussolini
Pressure from elite who were concerned with backing PM for murder, pressure from antifascists who called for his dismissal, pressure from ras who saw this murder as first step in revolution for dictatorship.
13 June 1924
100 ANTIFASCIST DEPUTIES LEFT PARLIAMENT: Claimed government was unconstitutional and established own parliament on Aventine hill outside Rome; ‘Aventine Secession’. This was the decisive break Mussolini needed- he had backing of king, pope, army, business, political elites. Strong right-wing, conservative, anticommunist government appealed to key figures in political system. He regained confidence.
Consequence of Aventine Succession
Absence of deputies made it easier to pass legislation.
Aventine Succession hampered by ideological differences, offered no threat
Clear king would not dismiss Mussolini
November 1924
CEASE VIOLENCE: Under pressure of army, Mussolini ordered PNF to cease violence and remove undisciplined members. This brought pressure from the squads.
29 December 1924
Salandra declared his opposition to Mussolini and Mussolini worried this would influence king.
