MUSSOLINI HISTORY

National government 1923

• Only PM – could be dismissed by the King​

• Coalition government​

• Only 32 Fascist deputies (of 535)​

• Formed the ‘National Government’ ​

• ‘Normalisation’​

• Alliance of Liberals and Right wing – Negative cohesion in action​

•  4 Fascists (Mussolini, Interior, Foreign)​, 4 Liberals​, 2 Populari​, 1 Nationalist​ and 3 Independents

Normalisation 1924

• Many parties in parliament disgusted by Matteoti crisis and walked out (lost their say in parliament) (Aventine Secession 1924)

• Mussolini sacked rossi who was most suspected for death of matteoti 

• Gave up post of interior minister - in charge of police

• MSVN oath of allegiance to king not Mussolini

• Squadristi leaders replaced by army officials

• Promised single constituency elections (not list system – end of Acerbo)

• Dec hinted at offering new elections (but didn’t promise them)​

• Gave more posts in government to Nationalists and Liberals

• Evidence that Mussolini wasn’t secure yet

Acerbo Law 1923

• Proposed by Giacomo Acerbo and passed in July 1923 with Fascist intimidation in parliament

• Stated that any party/coalition with 25%+ of the vote got two-thirds of seats in the Chamber of Deputies

• allowed Mussolini to pass laws by decree 

 Victor Emmanuel

• Weekly meeting

• Aventine Secession 1924 - called for the King to remove Mussolini because of Matteotti crisis 

• Sidelining of Monarch

press law 1925

Journalist had to be on official register which Fascists controlled​

Matteotti crisis 1924

• Socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti was murdered after denouncing Fascist election violence 
  

• Aventine Secession: opposition MPs walked out of parliament, hoping to force the King to act, but this left Mussolini stronger

Leggi Fascistissime 1925

• Banned trade unions 

• Set up secret police (OVRA)

• Special courts for political crimes 

• Armed forces (mussolini head of army, navy and air)

• Continued pursuit of freemasons

MSVN creation 1923

• Origins: The Blackshirts had been used to intimidate political opponents, break strikes, and enforce Fascist power since 1919.

• 1923 Creation: Mussolini legalised them by transforming them into the MVSN, making them an official body of the state.

• MSVN gave him personal army of 30,000 blackshirts

1924 elections

• The 1924 elections were the first held after the Acerbo Law (1923), which guaranteed a two-thirds majority in parliament to the party or coalition winning at least 25% of the vote.

• The Blackshirts (Squadristi) played a key role in ensuring Fascist dominance by intimidating voters, breaking up opposition rallies, and using violence to suppress Socialist and Liberal candidates.

• With this climate of fear, Mussolini’s Fascist-led National List officially won 66% of the vote and gained a huge parliamentary majority.