Luigi Facta
Encyclopedia
Luigi Facta was an Italian
politician, journalist and last Prime Minister of Italy before the leadership of Benito Mussolini
.
Facta was born in Pinerolo
, Piedmont
, Italy
. He studied law and later became a journalist. He entered politics in 1892 when he was elected to the chamber of deputies
for Pinerolo, a seat which he held for 30 years. Facta, a member of the Liberal Party, served as undersecretary of the justice and interior departments in the coalition cabinets for much of his time in Parliament. He was also finance minister
from 1910 until 1912 and 1917 until 1924. At the outbreak of World War I
, Facta supported neutrality for Italy, but then supported the war when Italy entered it. His son was killed in the war, and he said that he was proud to give a son to his country.
Facta was appointed Prime Minister in February 1922. At the time, Italy was in political turmoil, and was dealing with Mussolini's fascist insurgency. In July 1922, Facta was dismissed from office for not effectively dealing with the fascists, but no one else was able to form a government, so he was again reappointed Prime Minister by the King. Facta did not openly oppose Benito Mussolini
, even though the latter had openly called for his resignation, and he was slow to react to insurrectionist attitudes within the population. When Facta did finally react to the mounting situation, it was to declare martial law. Instead of signing Facta's decree, King Victor Emmanuel III again dismissed Facta from office and asked Mussolini to form a government instead.
In 1924 King Victor Emmanuel III named him senator.
Facta eventually died in Pinerolo
, Italy
, with the general population believing him to have been a weak leader who did not stand up for his principles, and, along with King Victor Emanuel III, is largely blamed for Mussolini's seizure of power.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
politician, journalist and last Prime Minister of Italy before the leadership of Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
.
Facta was born in Pinerolo
Pinerolo
Pinerolo is a town and comune in north-western Italy, 40 kilometres southwest of Turin on the river Chisone.-History:In the Middle Ages, the town of Pinerolo was one of the main crossroads in Italy, and was therefore one of the principal fortresses of the dukes of Savoy. Its military importance...
, Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He studied law and later became a journalist. He entered politics in 1892 when he was elected to the chamber of deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
for Pinerolo, a seat which he held for 30 years. Facta, a member of the Liberal Party, served as undersecretary of the justice and interior departments in the coalition cabinets for much of his time in Parliament. He was also finance minister
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
from 1910 until 1912 and 1917 until 1924. At the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Facta supported neutrality for Italy, but then supported the war when Italy entered it. His son was killed in the war, and he said that he was proud to give a son to his country.
Facta was appointed Prime Minister in February 1922. At the time, Italy was in political turmoil, and was dealing with Mussolini's fascist insurgency. In July 1922, Facta was dismissed from office for not effectively dealing with the fascists, but no one else was able to form a government, so he was again reappointed Prime Minister by the King. Facta did not openly oppose Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
, even though the latter had openly called for his resignation, and he was slow to react to insurrectionist attitudes within the population. When Facta did finally react to the mounting situation, it was to declare martial law. Instead of signing Facta's decree, King Victor Emmanuel III again dismissed Facta from office and asked Mussolini to form a government instead.
In 1924 King Victor Emmanuel III named him senator.
Facta eventually died in Pinerolo
Pinerolo
Pinerolo is a town and comune in north-western Italy, 40 kilometres southwest of Turin on the river Chisone.-History:In the Middle Ages, the town of Pinerolo was one of the main crossroads in Italy, and was therefore one of the principal fortresses of the dukes of Savoy. Its military importance...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, with the general population believing him to have been a weak leader who did not stand up for his principles, and, along with King Victor Emanuel III, is largely blamed for Mussolini's seizure of power.