A special date for Italy: 2 June

In 2016 we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the birth of the Italian Republic. 

It was 2nd June 1946, when the Italian people turned the page of their history book. Because of the institutional referendum, they put to an end the monarchy, choosing a form of republican government.

The referendum gave the victory to the Republicans with 54.3% of the votes against 47.7% for the monarchists. For the first time (excluding the administrative elections in March and April in 1946 which concerned only some regions) in Italy voted even women. An achievement came after years of battles and much later than in the other European countries.

With the end of the monarchy, which was in whole Italy from 1861, also it was proclaimed the exile of the Savoy. Many people believed that they were leading the country to disaster with fascism and the Second World War. King Umberto II of Savoy left Italy directly from Ciampino airport and went to Portugal. He had been the king just for a month, from 9th May 1946 until 18th June : he has the nickname "King of May". Umberto accepted exile and lived in Cascais (Portugal) and in Geneva.