Italy: Repubblica Italiana

CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT. On 10 June 1946 Italy became a republic on the announcement by the Court of Cassation that a majority of the voters at the referendum held on 2 June had voted for a republic. The final figures, announced on 18 June, showed: For a republic, 12,718,641 (54–3 % of the valid votes cast, which numbered 23,437,143); for the retention of the monarchy, 10,718,502 (45–7%); invalid and contested, 1,509,735. Total 24,946,878, or 89–1 % of the registered electors, who numbered 28,005,449. For the results of the polling in the 13 leading cities, see The Statesman’s Year-Book , 1951, p. 1175. Voting was compulsory, open to both men and women 21 years of age or older, including members of the Civil Service and the Armed Forces; former active Fascists and a few other categories were excluded.