In defense of proportional: Ipp’s opposition to the Acerbo law

Abstract

The essay examines the Italian Popular Party’s (Ipp) opposition to the Acerbo’s Law. Indeed, the Ipp saw proportionalism as the key to redeveloping the representativeness of the liberal state in a pluralistic and autonomist key. However, the resignation of the secretary, Luigi Sturzo, which occurred after an insistent fascist campaign, led part of the party to an opening to the law, which was in the end approved. Above all, the capitulation overwhelmed the position of popular mediation, which, on balance, failed to achieve the mitigation of the government electoral reform.