Why Was Mussolini Able To Become A Dictator Just Six Years After His Appointment As Prime Minister?

• The King was supportive of Mussolini due to his personality and his aims.  Mussolini promised to end the political instability of Italy and seemed as though he valued the King and army.  He also felt that to deny Mussolini power would cause even more problems as Mussolini had huge public support.  After Mussolini’s appointment King supported him as he felt that he needed to justify his decision and not supporting him would look like the King had made a mistake.  

• The Army supported Mussolini as he was not afraid to use force as shown against the PSI and the Fascist squads formed the “militia” which became part of the army.

Other Political Parties

• Mussolini was quite fortunate as there was no real opposition as other political parties were either in dispute internally or with other parties.

• The PSI had split into three divisions; the Communist Party (PCI), the moderate Socialists (PSU) and the main Socialist Party.  This division of the Socialists meant they were not a threat to Fascism.

• The Roman Catholic Popular Party (PPI) was undecided in their attitude towards Socialism.  Mussolini had introduced policies to gain the Catholics support and the right-wing members of the PPI felt that Fascism was a better option than Socialism.  However, the left-wing members felt that the treatment of peasants and workers was unsatisfactory and therefore did not support Fascism.

• The Liberals were ineffective.  Former Prime Ministers tried to gather support but ultimately they felt that by co-operating with Mussolini they would be able to control him and that this provided the best option for Italy.

Result

• This lack of opposition and support from various groups allowed Mussolini to consolidate his power.  In November, Parliament gave Mussolini a vote of confidence and he was permitted to use emergency powers to restore order.

• This also enabled Mussolini to set up the Fascist Grand Council and the “militia” which gave the Fascist squads and the “ras” a role and also made it look like he was trying to pacify the extremists.

Violence

• Fascist violence was also a key to Mussolini consolidating his power.  

• Although there was not much opposition to Mussolini, any opposition was dealt with violently; they were threatened, beaten up and in some cases killed.  

• Opposition was also unable to develop as opposition meetings and offices were attacked and destroyed and anti-Fascist newspapers were censored.

• This led to a number of politicians feeling intimidated by Fascism and this was used by Mussolini to his advantage.

Popularity

• Fascism was popular with the middle-classes as well.

• Fascism destroyed the institutions of democracy that were not liked and offered an alternative to socialism and communism.  

• Mussolini had an appeal, he was considered a strong leader who was able to make Italy strong abroad and end Italy’s political instability.

Result  

• Mussolini needed more Fascists in the government which was unlikely due to proportional representation.  Therefore, he decided to change the law and introduced the Acerbo Election Law in July 1923.  This law stated that if a party had 25% of the votes then they will get 66% of the seats.  There were armed “black-shirts” patrolling the Parliament building.  In Parliament 303 voted for the law, 40 against and the rest abstained.

• Mussolini hoped now that he could gain a majority in Parliament and called for an election.

• Due to the support from the middle classes and the lack of opposition, Mussolini was confident he would gain a majority.

• However, the election was corrupt.  The PSI meetings were broken up and many Fascists voted more than once.  The official candidates won 66% of the vote leading to 275 Fascist deputies and 100 others who supported Fascism.  There was less than 50 for the PSI and PPI.

• The extent of the corruption can be clearly seen because in the North, where there was no election rigging Fascists received less than 40% of the votes.  This shows that Fascism was not as strong as considered.

Matteotti 

• Matteotti was a leading, outspoken Socialist who claimed that the elections were corrupt and that they should be declared void.  

• Eleven days later Matteotti was thrown in a car and stabbed and after two months his body was found.  

• Mussolini is implicated as the car belonged to one of his friends, Fillipelli and the murder is traced to Domini who is associates with Mussolini’s Press Secretary, Rossi.

Result

• Mussolini suffered criticism for not controlling the violence in the Fascist Party.  A number of Deputies walked out of the Chamber and set up the “Aventine Secession” which was theur own assembly.

• However, the King still did not want to make Mussolini resign due to the fear of Socialism.  

• This gave Mussolini a huge opportunity.  Mussolini gives a speech on the 3rd January in which he states that there will be tighter control of the press and there will be less opposition to Fascism.  He also declares the need for a strong government but says that the squads will not be used.

• Throughout 1925 opponents to Fascism were arrested and the press was tightly controlled.  

The Fundamental Law

• In December 1925 the Fundamental Law is passed due to the lack of opposition.  The law states that the Prime Minister is able to bypass Parliament and only have to go to the King also gives Mussolini the power to pass decrees meaning he can control everything.

• Therefore, with these decrees, Mussolini bans trade unions and political opposition, he censors the press even more and increases the Fascist influence in the press, he replaces elected officials with appointed officials and sets up the OVRA a secret police.

Result

• This led to the “Ras” worrying about the influence of Mussolini and fearful of an attempted overthrow he decides to decrease their influence.

• This was achieved by appointed Farinacci, a “ras” leader as Secretary of the Fascist Party and instructs him to reduce the power of the “ras” and then forces him to resign..

• Mussolini became leader of the Fascist Party and all officials are made by appointment.  This led to the Fascist Party being tamed and Mussolini having more influence.  Mussolini therefore becomes “Il Duce” (The Dictator).  

Conclusion

• It can be seen that there are a number of reasons why Mussolini was able to become a dictator.  

• After being appointed Prime Minister, Mussolini realised the need to consolidate his power and this was achieved by receiving a vote of confidence leading to him being granted emergency powers with which he set up the “militia” and Fascist Grand Council.

• Then, due to Fascist violence a number of politicians feared Fascism.  This was significant in the passing of the Acerbo Election Law as the “black-shirts” patrolled the Parliament building.

• As a result of this violence and intimidation the Acerbo Election Law was passed which gave Mussolini the opportunity to gain the majority.  The fact that political opponents were weak due to internal division and the fact that Mussolini had made Fascism so popular with middle-classes, made it seem likely that Mussolini would gain the overall majority.  However, the elections were corrupt which led to a staggering overall majority.

• The death of Matteotti was key in Mussolini becoming dictator.  Mussolini suffered a huge lack of support after the crisis.  However, due to the King’s support of Mussolini and the fact it would make it look like he made a mistake appointing Mussolini and that the King was fearful of Socialism, he did not make Mussolini resign.

• This enabled Mussolini to use this event to create a stronger government and destroy any opposition to Fascism.  This resulted in the Fundamental Law, which was passed due to the lack of opposition, enabling Mussolini to become even more in control.  The fact that officials were now appointed led to Mussolini being able to reduce the power of the “ras”.  Mussolini became leader of the Fascist Party and therefore he had more power than the party itself and so he became “Il Duce”.

• Therefore, it can be seen that all the reasons are linked and all contribute to Mussolini being able to become dictator.  However, Mussolini’s opportunist political skills evident in the Acerbo Election Law and the call for a stronger government after the Matteotti crisis were vital in him becoming “Il Duce” so quickly.

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