Government History and World War II
Italy is a republic today. The current Chief of State is Giorgio Napolitano, who came to office on May 15th, 2006. Italy became an independent state on March 17th, 1861. The king at the time was King Victor Emmanuel II, who became king on that day. Austria had own parts of Italy since 1713, but lost them in 1861. The annexation of Venetia and papal Rome unified all of Italy into a constitutional monarchy. Almost 60 years later, Benito Mussolini organized frazzled Italians frow World War I into the Fascist Party in 1919. He later used the March on Rome to become the Prime Minister of Italy on October 28th, 1922. Mussolini allied himself with Fuhrer Adolph Hitler of Germany to form 2 out of the 3 Axis Powers in the 1930s, a few years before World War II. After the war, the Italian Constitution passed on December 11th, 1947, and went into effect on January 1st, 1948. The national anthem, adopted in 1946, is "Il Canto degli Italiani". It was written by Goffredo Mameli and Michele Navaro. The national holiday is Republic Day, which is June 2nd (1946). In modern times, Mario Monti was Prime Minister from November 16th, 2011 to December 21st, 2012, but resumed the position while the election was occuring.
Italian Government Officials
Italy has many government officials. Their positions are very important to the country.
President: Giorgio Napolitano
Prime Minister: Enrico Letta
Secretary for the President of the Council of Ministers: Antonio Catricala
Minister of Agriculture: Mario Catania
Minister of Community Policy: Enzo Moavero Milanesi
Minister of Cultural Assets: Lorenzo Ornaghi
Minister of Justice: Paola Severino
Minister of Tourism and Sport: Piero Gnudi
Minister of Defense: Giampaolo Di Paola
Minister of Economic Development: Corrado Passera
Minister of Economy and Finance: Vitorio Grilli
Minister of Territorial Cohesion: Fabrizio Barca
Minister of Relations with Parliament: Piero Giarda
Minister of Education: Franceso Profumo
Minister of Environment: Corrado Clini
Minister of International Cooperaton: Andrea Riccardi
Minister of Interior: Anna Maria Cancellieri
Minister of Health: Renato Balduzzi
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport: Corrado Passera
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Giulio Terzi di Sant' Agata
Governor of the Bank of Italy: Ignazio Visco
Ambassador to the US: Claudio Bisogniero
Permanent UN Representative: Cesare Maria Ragaglini
President: Giorgio Napolitano
Prime Minister: Enrico Letta
Secretary for the President of the Council of Ministers: Antonio Catricala
Minister of Agriculture: Mario Catania
Minister of Community Policy: Enzo Moavero Milanesi
Minister of Cultural Assets: Lorenzo Ornaghi
Minister of Justice: Paola Severino
Minister of Tourism and Sport: Piero Gnudi
Minister of Defense: Giampaolo Di Paola
Minister of Economic Development: Corrado Passera
Minister of Economy and Finance: Vitorio Grilli
Minister of Territorial Cohesion: Fabrizio Barca
Minister of Relations with Parliament: Piero Giarda
Minister of Education: Franceso Profumo
Minister of Environment: Corrado Clini
Minister of International Cooperaton: Andrea Riccardi
Minister of Interior: Anna Maria Cancellieri
Minister of Health: Renato Balduzzi
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport: Corrado Passera
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Giulio Terzi di Sant' Agata
Governor of the Bank of Italy: Ignazio Visco
Ambassador to the US: Claudio Bisogniero
Permanent UN Representative: Cesare Maria Ragaglini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was born on July 29th, 1883. He used the March on Rome (October 22-29, 1922) to become the 27th Prime Minister of Italy on October 28th, 1922. He was a key figure in the development of Fascism. Italy was devastated by World War I (1914-1918). With Italy in such bad shape, Mussolini convinced people to join the Fascist Party in 1919. He took over as the Head of Government and Duce of Fascism in December 1925, and left office in late July of 1943. He went back to his original political party, the Italian Socialist Party, until his assassination in 1945. On June 10th, 1940, Mussolini sided with Adolph Hitler in World War II. He was known to be a cruel, heartless dictator. He was eventually killed on April 28th, 1945.
Giorgio Napolitano
Giorgio Napolitano was born on June 29th, 1925. He is the current President of Italy. He became President on May 15th, 2006. He has been a democrat and a communist before becoming independent. He is the first president to be elected to a second term. He is the 11th President of Italy. Four Prime Ministers have served under Napolitano: Romano Prodi (2006-2008), Silvio Berlusconi (1994-1995, 2001-2006, 2008-2011), Mario Monti (2011-2013), and Enrico Letta (April 2013-Present). Napolitano is a good, strong political leader that almost everyone likes. There have been very few problems during his presidency.
Italian Monarchy
Before Italy became a democracy, Italy was a monarchy. The Kingdom of Italy spanned from 1861 to 1946. Italy had kings before 1861, but the Kingdom of Italy was formed when Italy became an independent state. The first king was Victor Emmanuel II. He ruled from March 17th, 1861 to January 9th, 1878. He was succeeded by Umberto I, who was king from January 9th, 1878 to July 29th, 1900. He was followed by Victor Emmanuel III, who ruled from July 29th, 1900 to May 9th, 1946. Finally, Umberto II was king from May 9th, 1946 to June 12th, 1946. Before the Kingdom of Italy was established, the Kingdom of Sardinia was found in Italy.