The expression “Giolittismo” stands for the era from 1900 to 1924 during which Giolitti’s corruption practices were the boldest. He opposed Italian participation in WW 1 but failed and lost his premiership in 1914. He was instrumental in making it possible that the Fascists won 35 seats in the chamber during the 1921 elections thus helping Benito Mussolini gain power. He remained silent to the increasing Fascist brutality until after November 1924, at what time he opposed Mussolini openly.

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Giolitti’s Career Chronology

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1842

Giovanni Giolitti is born in Mondovi (Piemonte) on October 27 to his father Giovenale Giolitti, an officer of the court and mother Enrichetta Plochiù;

​1861

Giolitti graduates from the law school at the university of Turin;

1869

After a short tenure at the royal court in Turin he transfers to the Italian Government and is appointed to Secretary of State;

1872

Giolitti is appointed to the position of Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance and moves to Rome;

1882

Prime Minister Agostino Depretis (1813-1887) appoints Giolitti to Privy Council. He is also a Liberal member of the Italian Parliament;

1885

Giolitti openly opposes Prime Minister Depretis and leads the opposition with respect to financial policies;

1889

Giolitti is nominated Minister of Finance (Treasury Secretary) by Prime Minister Crispi;

1890

Giolitti steps down as Minister and becomes the lead opponent to Italy’s financial policies representing the leftist liberal party;

1892

Giolitti is nominated Prime Minister;

1893

 Following accusations of foul play and involvement in a substantial bank scandal, Giolitti steps down as Prime Minister;

1901-1903

King Vittorio Emanuele III nominates Giolitti Minister of Interior under Prime Minister Zanardelli. Given his vast experience in government affairs he is viewed as the actual head of state and succeeds in molding most of the government policies;

1903-1905

As Prime Minister he attempts to integrate the Italian workers and labor movement with the liberal Monarchy. He believes that succeeding in this unification would promote Italy’s industrialization;

1906-1909

Now a Prime Minister for the 3d time, Giolitti moves Italy away from the Tri-State treaty Italy enjoyed with the Austria-Hungarian and the German Monarchies over issues of power over the Balkan states;

1911

Giolitti is nominated Prime Minister for the 4th time. His attempt to facilitate the participation of the Socialist Party in the Italian government fails due to opposition of the party’s revolutionary wing;

1912

Introduction of General Elections and government controlled Social (Security) Insurance;

1914

Following parliamentary elections in February that led to increased power by Conservatives and the Socialists, Giolitti steps down as Prime Minister. By August, the debate about Italy’s participation in WW1 leads to a strongly divided Italy. The Nationalists and radical Republicans favor Italy’s participation while the parliamentary majority led by Giolitti favor neutrality;

1915

Giolitti becomes Leader of the Opposition in May and hopes that his party’s parliamentary majority will help bring the Salandra government down. During mass demonstrations, the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio agitates the crowd to kill Giolitti. Giolitti’s departure from Rome finally leads to the break-up of the opposition by the Neutralist party;

1915-1918

Italy participates in WW1 under the Entente. However at the conclusion of the war, Italy is not awarded the Balkan territories it requested;

1920

In the wake of post war’s political and economic crisis, Giolitti is again nominated Prime Minister. He signs an accord with Yugoslavia and ends the occupation of the city Fiume (today known as Rijeka) by force;

1921- 1922

Giolitti steers Italy on an integration course to include the first-time elected Fascists. As he fails in this attempt, he steps down as Prime Minister and limits himself to the Opposition; (He is followed by Luigi Facta in 1922)

1926

Giolitti openly opposes Benito Mussolini’s government;

1928

In what was to be his last major speech to the parliament, 85-years old, Giolitti calls for opposition to Mussolini’s proposed election reform which in his words was equal to the dissolution of the constitution. Giovanni Giolitti dies on July 17 in Cavour, Piedmont.

Sources: Microsoft Encarta, The Columbia encyclopedia. Sixth edition; “Die Bibliographie von Giovanni Giolitti”.