Topic 2: Creation of a Fascist dictatorship 1922-26 Flashcards
Mussolini’s strategy for consolidating his political power
He needed a convincing majority in the COD in the upcomming election.
Exerted control through a mixture of political intimidation and compromise with his key political rivals.
Needed control over the existing state institutions in order to maintain dominance over more radical fascists (Ras).
Controlling the PNF and working with previous state institutions
The radical Ras (Roberto Farinacci), wanted all political parties and the italian parliament closed.
Mussolini saw this would require a revolution and illegal actions which he was not prepared to undertake.
Mussolini emphasised the need to work with established political structures and supported “normalisation”. (end violence return to normal methods)
He made concessions to the Catholic church, passed measures favourable to landowners and industrialists.
Farinacci was made party secretary by Mussolini, allowed him to exert more control over radical fascists.
Sent another radical to govern Italian Somaliland.
M saw squad violence or extremism posed a threat to his policy of “normalisation” and could provoke a political reaction against the movement.
MSVN
Fascist Militia created in January 1923 to “defend the Fascist revolution”.
Consisted of 300,000 Blackshirts paid directly by the state.
Mussolini was the head and could exert more control over them than the Squadristi.
Former Army officers placed in charge of local units (weakened control of the Ras)
200+ Ras expuled.
MSVN- provided employment, given uniforms and encouraged to maintain a high public profile within their regions.
They had no political power and served to strengthen Mussolini’s control of the Italian Fascist movement.
Took oath of loyalty to Mussolini himself, rather than to the king or gov.
Fascist Grand Council
December 1922
Acted as consultative committee where fascists would meet to discuss political issues.
Meant to act as link between the Fascist movement and Fascist governemnt.
Mechanism for mussolini to exert his control over leading members of the movement.
Meant to discuss and approve gov policy before being sent to the cabinet and parliament for approval. New policy was created by the Fascist party, not the elected parliament.
Mussolini chose the 22 members, giving him much control over the group, which met monthly.
PNF membership
1922- 300,000
1923- 783,000
Diluted more radical elements of movement who opposed normalisation.
new members interested in patronage of membership rather than believing in fascism.
February 1923- Italian Nationalists disbanded their own organisations and merged with the PNF. Made many upper middle class people (landowners, civil service), who supported the monarchy and conservatism members.
Weakened more extreme fascist ideas and policies and allowed Mussolini to establish firm control over the Fascist movement by the mid 1920’s.
Acerbo Law
Passed in 1923, effective in 1924 election.
Proposals stated that:
Elections would be implemented in the same way, with political parties producing lists of constituency candidets.
Votes cast in the different constituencies would be totalled and the party list which gained the most votes would be allocated 2/3’s of the seats in the COD. (dependent on gaining at least 25% of votes cast).
The remaining 1/3 of seats would be allocated to other lists in accordance with the proportion of votes each group or party gained.
The former proportional representation made it difficult to reach a political consensus, Mussolini sought to end this by establishing total Fascist dominance.
Support for Acerbo law
Also supported by leading liberals, they felt it would help end the political instability that had plagued the political system since the end of WWI.
Right-wing and Liberal politicians also felt these proposals would undermine support for the socialists.
M argued the reform would result in a gov with a large majority of Mps, which could act decisively in dealing with various challenges. End the weak coalition govs.
But M also knew many local gov’s were now dominated by F’s and F squads could also be used to fix elections.
Would help to secure a permanent Fascist majority in the COD. (could guarantee police would not intervene).
M threatened to close the COD if Acerbo’s proposals were not passed into law and rule through emergency powers instead.
Aranged for Blackshirts to enter the COD to intimidate politicians as the law was discussed.
The favourable laws made for the catholics meant the pope pressurised the popolari not to oppose the law.
Only the Socialists and Communists opposed Acerbo’s proposals, which were passed by 235 for and 139 against in July 1923.
Success of Acerbo Law
April 1924 elections
Fascists joined with RW liberals like salandra, gained 66% of the vote 35 —> 374 Fascist MP’s.
Clear majority, he was popular but still relied on violence of blackshirts and ballot rigging.
still 2.5 million opposition votes.
Mussolini did not have complete power, Laws needed to be approved by parliament, opposition groups still existed and the king could dismiss the PM.
Matteoti Crisis
30 May 1924
Socialist, Giacomo Matteotti, gave evidence to parliament that violence influenced the april election.
Called for annulment of election results and new elections.
11 days later he was kidnapped by fascists and stabbed to death.
The discovery of his body shocked world opinion and caused widespread criticism of M.
Mussolini denied any prior knowledge of involvement, even to Matteoti’s widow//.
yet evidence emerged within the press linking him to the murder.
Many believed a Cheka (secret hit squad), was directly involved.
Aventine Secession
Some Opposition MP’s withdrew from the COD and established a rival parliament known as the “aventine secession”, in reference to Ancient Rome where men withdrawing from politics went to the “Aventine Hill”.
Consisted mainly of socialists, communists and Popolari who hoped this would convince the king to dismiss M.
But the King did not want more LW influence/power fearing a civil war.
Mussolini eventually took advantage of this and introduced:
Press censorship in July 1924
Ban on meetings by opposition political groups or parties (public assembly) in August 1924
Prompted liberals to openly critique the PM.
So M’s actions did not remove either political oppposition or satisfy more radical Fascists.
Creation of a Dictatorship following Fascist pressure on Mussolini
33 Leading Fascists demanded a dictatorship in December 1924.
If M refused they threatened to withdraw support.
M adhered to their demands on 3 January 1925 he announced to the parliament he accepted responsibility for all previous Fascist actions.
Announced within 48 hours he would set up a dictatorship.
He was Confident the king would not oppose him, nor the COD, where he held a very secure majority (Acarbo Law + Aventine Secession).
Constitutional amendments and repression
Aimed to further embed and strengthen Fascist dictatorship.
Led to a wave of arrests.
M given power to further control over his gov.
Jan 1926- +2,000 decrees issued.
Authoritarian laws destroyed the Liberal constitution.
New Fascist Laws
24 December 1925 and 31 January 1926- Established supremacy of the executive powers and the subordination of all ministers of state, and parliament, to the head of the gov (M).
December onwards M was known as Il Duce (leader) rather than PM.
Feb 1926 Laws- Local admin reorganised, elected mayors replaced with new office of podesta, selected by royal nomination.
May 1928- A single electoral college created and the FGC was given
Measures against the press
Immediate action to restrict freedom of press.
Much of the press was critical of the Fascists, especially after Matteotti.
M increased censorship, newspaper owners were pressurised to dismiss editors critical of Fascism in the past.
Decmber 1925 onwards- journalists required to have their names on a central official register, controlled by the fascists, before they could seek employment.
Gave the Fascists complete control over the flow of information and stories. (Important foundation for future manipulation of press later on)
Ban on political parties
Those who walked out during the aventine secession were not allowed to return.
December 1925- Legge Fascitissme passed, strengthened the central gov. Bannel opposition parties and trade unions not alligned to the Fascist movement.
Freedom of association (meeting together), banned in 1926.
However in practice opposition parties had been restricted since the March on rome.
