Arturo Michelini
Arturo Michelini | |
---|---|
Secretary of the Italian Social Movement | |
In office 10 October 1954 – 15 June 1969 | |
Preceded by | Augusto De Marsanich |
Succeeded by | Giorgio Almirante |
Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
In office 8 May 1948 – 15 June 1969 | |
Constituency | Italy at-large (1948–1953) Rome (1953–1969) |
Personal details | |
Born | Florence, Kingdom of Italy | 17 February 1909
Died | 15 June 1969 Rome, Italy | (aged 60)
Political party | MSI (1954–1969) |
Other political affiliations | |
Occupation | Accountant, politician |
Awards | Silver Medal of Military Valor |
Arturo Michelini (17 February 1909 – 15 June 1969) was an Italian politician and secretary of the Italian Social Movement (MSI). A minor party official during the days of Italian fascism and a war veteran, Michelini emerged as one of the two leading figures in the MSI during the 1950s and 1960s, representing the moderate tendency of the party against the nostalgic fascist tendency.
Early years
Michelini was born in
Leadership of the MSI
Michelini emerged as a leading figure in the neo-fascism strain of Italian politics that emerged immediately after the war and was a prominent figure in the foundation of the MSI.[3] He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Rome at the 1948 election as one of the new party's six representatives.[3] He emerged as leader of the MSI in 1954 in succession to Augusto De Marsanich and sought to moderate the party's neo-fascism in an attempt to bring it more into the political mainstream, an endeavour in which he largely failed.[1] He was linked to financial powers in Rome as well as the Vatican City who sought to move the MSI away from its Third Position rhetoric into more conservative ideals.[4]
Michelini's policies helped to push some of the more radical elements out of the party and into such fringe groups as
Despite these attempts at moderation the MSI lost support under Michelini's leadership, dropping from 5.8% in the 1953 general election to 4.9% in the 1958 election.[6] Michelini however was a skilled negotiator and adept at the internal politics of the MSI and at the 8th party congress in June 1965 when the pro-fascist wing formed a majority for the first time under his leadership he was able to remain in position by virtue of concluding a private deal with their leader Almirante.[3] In this respect he was able to retain the leadership of the MSI until his death in 1969, at which point Almirante took over.[3]
Electoral history
Election | House | Constituency | Party | Votes | Result | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | Chamber of Deputies | Italy at-large | MSI | –[a] | Elected | |
1953 | Chamber of Deputies | Rome–Viterbo–Latina–Frosinone | MSI | 27,383 | Elected | |
1958 | Chamber of Deputies | Rome–Viterbo–Latina–Frosinone | MSI | 40,499 | Elected | |
1963 | Chamber of Deputies | Rome–Viterbo–Latina–Frosinone | MSI | 88,901 | Elected | |
1968 | Chamber of Deputies | Rome–Viterbo–Latina–Frosinone | MSI | 77,832 | Elected |
- ^ Elected in a closed list proportional representation system.
References
- ^ a b P. Davies & D. Lynch, The Routledge Companion to Fascism and the Far Right, 2002, p.225
- ^ a b Roger Eatwell, Fascism A History, 2003, p. 250
- ^ a b c d e f g h Philip Rees, Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890, Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1990, p. 264
- ^ Franco Ferraresi, Threats to Democracy - The Radical Right in Italy After the War, Princeton University Press, 1996, p. 24
- ^ Ferraresi, Threats to Democracy, p. 53
- ^ Ferraresi, Threats to Democracy, p. 28