1946 Italian institutional referendum

• 1. Mazzini And Republican Origins

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  Giuseppe Mazzini founded the Young Italy movement in July 1831 while living in exile in Marseille. This organization aimed to transform Italy into a unitary democratic republic based on freedom, independence and unity. Mazzini rejected intellectualism that divorced theory from practice, insisting that every thought must be followed by action. His ideas influenced many politicians of later periods including Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, Mahatma Gandhi, Golda Meir and Jawaharlal Nehru. The political projects of Mazzini and Carlo Cattaneo were thwarted by Camillo Benso Count of Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi. Garibaldi handed over conquered territories to King Victor Emmanuel II after his Expedition of the Thousand which earned him heavy criticism from numerous republicans who accused him of treason. On the 17th of March 1861 Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed king of Italy establishing a constitutional monarchy founded on the Albertine Statute. From 1861 to 1946 Italy remained a kingdom where only 2% of Italians had the right to vote initially. A republican martyr named Pietro Barsanti was shot in 1870 for favoring an insurrectional attempt against the Savoy monarchy. He is considered the first martyr of the modern Italian Republic and remains a symbol of republican ideals.

• 2. Fascist Era And Monarchy Collapse

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  In October 1922 King Victor Emmanuel III nominated Benito Mussolini as prime minister following the march on Rome. This decision paved the way for the establishment of dictatorship that lasted two decades. The Albertine Statute was progressively emptied of its content while Parliament became subject to the will of the new government. Victor Emmanuel III did not draw consequences from the assassination of Giacomo Matteotti in 1924 when 127 deputies left Parliament and retreated to the Aventine Hill. The king accepted the title of emperor in 1936 at the end of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War before forming an alliance with Nazi Germany. Italy entered World War II on the 10th of June 1940 alongside Nazi Germany which considerably weakened the role of the royal house. On the 25th of July 1943 Victor Emmanuel III revoked Mussolini's mandate as prime minister and had him arrested entrusting the government to Marshal Pietro Badoglio. When the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on the 8th of September 1943 the Germans reacted by placing under their control all parts of Italian territory still escaping Allied advance. Victor Emmanuel III and Badoglio fled Rome reaching Brindisi in southern Italy where they remained until liberation.

• 3. Anti-Fascist Resistance And Compromise

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  A National Liberation Committee formed on the 9th of September 1943 in Rome brought together representatives of the Italian Communist Party members of the Action Party Christian Democrats liberals socialists and progressive democrats. This committee gave priority to fighting against Nazi-fascists postponing the question of institutional form until after victory but made abdication of the king a prerequisite for establishing an anti-fascist government. Palmiro Togliatti general secretary of the Italian Communist Party called for formation of a government of national unity on the 31st of March 1944 no longer requiring the king's abdication as prerequisite. This declaration pushed parties of the National Liberation Committee to rally around compromise drawn up by Enrico De Nicola president of Chamber of Deputies until 1924 and Benedetto Croce of liberal party. Upon liberation of Rome on the 4th of June 1944 Victor Emmanuel III proclaimed his son Umberto lieutenant general of kingdom allowing parties to take political control even while war continued stabilizing on Gothic line until April 1945. From June 1944 to December 1945 three provisional coalition governments followed one another led first by Ivanoe Bonomi then Parri and finally De Gasperi.

• 4. Universal Suffrage And Campaign Dynamics

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  On the 31st of January 1945 Council of Ministers chaired by Ivanoe Bonomi issued decree recognizing women's right to vote after vain attempts in 1881 and 1907. Universal suffrage was thus recognized marking historic inclusion of female voters who had been excluded from previous elections where only 2% could initially participate. On the 16th of March 1946 Prince Umberto decreed institutional form would be decided by referendum organized simultaneously with election of constituent assembly set for the 2nd of June 1946. A month before referendum Victor Emmanuel III abdicated in favor of his son Umberto who became king taking name Umberto II. Abdication act dated the 9th of May 1946 was desired by monarchists since crown prince less compromised than father in Mussolini's rise to power. Former king immediately left Italy for Alexandria in Egypt while Umberto confirmed promise to respect popular decision regarding referendum. Representatives of parties favoring Republic protested arguing assumption of royal powers conflicted with article of legislative decree of the 16th of March 1946 guaranteeing institutional stability before results announcement. Some scuffles broke out between activists of two sides creating tense climate during final phase of electoral campaign.

• 5. North South Voting Divide Analysis

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  Final results announced on the 18th of June 1946 showed voter turnout at 89% with 54% votes cast for republic and 46% for monarchy. Analysis revealed Italy practically divided in two: north won republic with 66% of votes cast while south chose monarchy with 64%. Conservative rural Mezzogiorno region voted solidly for monarchy receiving 63.8% support whereas more urbanized industrialized Nord voted equally firmly for republic achieving 66.2%. Republican choice turned into plebiscite with over 80% votes cast in Bologna electoral college and even higher in Trento. In southern regions like Naples monarchist choice reached nearly 80% within that specific college. Electoral college of Rome remained very divided giving slight majority to monarchic regime despite overall national republican victory. Districts located north of Rome gave majority to republic while those south chose monarchy creating clear geographic divide. The occupation of North by German forces and period of Italian Civil War favored increase importance of socialist communist parties which were republican in tendency. South not experiencing same situation welcomed King Victor Emmanuel III placing trust in monarchic regime preferring continuity to leap into unknown represented by republican form.

• 6. Post Referendum Crisis And Exile

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  On the 10th of June at 6 pm Supreme Court of Cassation read partial results in Sala della Lupa Hall of Wolf postponing definitive proclamation until the 18th of June after taking decisions on appeals protests complaints. Republican demonstrations took place in many cities while Milanese newspaper ran headline declaring Italian Republic born. In Naples incident occurred on the 11th of June when procession of royalist supporters advanced toward municipal buildings then changed objective heading toward headquarters of Italian Communist Party. Demonstrators saw red flag but also tricolor flag from which royal coat of arms had been cut. Despite presence armored vehicles demonstrators attempted storm communist party headquarters exchanging gunfire with law enforcement officers resulting in nine deaths among royalist demonstrators and large number injuries. Calm returned only on the 13th of June following bloody repression. On night of the 12th of June government met at Alcide De Gasperi's invitation receiving written communication from king saying ready respect verdict electors vote but adding would await final declaration Supreme Court. Council Ministers resolved following provisional results proclamation functions provisional head state exercised by Prime Minister without wait for final official confirmation from Court. Former King Umberto II decided leave country next day going into exile in Cascais Portugal avoiding clashes between monarchists and republicans already manifested in various Italian cities.

• 7. Constitutional Transition And Symbolism

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  On same day former king departure flag Italy with Savoy coat arms lowered from Quirinal Palace modified through decree president Council Ministers No 1 dated the 19th of June 1946 eliminating Savoy coat arms. Republican tricolour officially delivered to military corps the 4th of November 1947 during National Unity Armed Forces Day universally adopted ratio 2:3 while war flag squared 1:1. Each comune received gonfalone bearing its own coat arms. On the 27th of May 1949 law passed describing regulating way flag displayed outside public buildings during national holidays. After birth Republic La leggenda del Piave temporarily chosen as provisional national anthem replacing Marcia Reale national anthem Kingdom Italy. War Minister Cipriano Facchinetti proposed adoption Il Canto degli Italiani as provisional anthem announced during celebrations the 4th of November 1946. Il Canto degli Italiani chosen the 12th of October 1946 as provisional national anthem role later preserved remaining de facto anthem until finally gaining official status the 4th of December 2017. On the 18th of June 1946 at 6 pm Supreme Court proclaimed final results without reservations previously done. First session Constituent Assembly elected Enrico De Nicola provisional head state receiving 396 votes out 501 in first round. He initially only provisional head not president since constitution did not yet exist. On the 1st of January 1948 Republican Constitution came into force proclaiming Italy democratic republic founded on labor prohibiting former kings House Savoy wives male descendants entering staying national territory.