Italy votes to become a republic – archive, 1946

On 2 June 1946, in the first free election after the Mussolini dictatorship, Italy voted to abolish its monarchy and become a republic Italy is to become a Republic. This became known last evening when Rome radio broadcast the result of the referendum. The figures were: For a republic …….… 12,182,855 For the monarchy .… 10,362,709 The figures represent votes cast in 34,112 out of 35,236 polling districts. The figures will be announced on Sunday, and ex-King Umberto will leave Italy that day, probably for Egypt, where his father, Victor Emmanuel, is already living. His wife and family went to Naples yesterday to await him. All regions of northern Italy voted for a republic and central and southern Italy, with the exception of the region of Umbria, favoured the monarchy, as did Sicily and Sardinia. Rome was equally divided, 677,000 voting for a monarchy, and 619,000 against. The latest election results give the Christian Democrats a lead of about three million votes over the Socialists and, who are the second largest party. The Communists came not far behind the Socialists. Seventy-four years after his death one half of Mazzini’s dream has been realised: Italy is for the fi