Fascist Italy

How far did the liberals overcome the problems of their political systems?

• Political system
• Problems
• 1) The King = a useless entity
• House of Savoy produced few high quality Kings
• Too much power?
• Old Piedmont laws - gave the King huge powers
• Statuto Albertino (Statuto)
• Rule without the government
• Dismiss the government
• Issue laws without the government
• Politicians take advantage of the King
• Direct appointments - bypass "democracy"
• "Democracy" ==> autocratic state
• 2) Politician's - Irrelevant
• P represented a narrow section of a broad Italian population
• Because they were mainly wealth, middle class, liberals and careerists
• Tory electorate
• Extends Franchise to 7%
• BUT... Literacy qualification still necessary
• This limits the South, as that is mainly illiterate
•  As it is Catholics do not vote
• As a result of the non…