Let's say that at some point after he's taken over Italy and made people used to life under fascism, that the duce is served some under cooked *insert animal commonly used in Italian cuisine here* and ends up going to fascist heaven as a result, who would succeed Mussolini, and how would his death affect Italy and the rest of Europe?
Successor to Mussolini
- Thread starter Etruscan-enthusiast35
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The three most likely are Galleazo Ciano (adoptive son), Pavolini (leader of the militia) and Dino Grandi.
I don't want to sound rude, but how can the replies above have meaning, unless one says when this happens? Pavolini, for instance, until 1932 is a local party boss, and a Fascist journalist, but in Rome he's a complete nobody.
If we go with "at an indefinite time between 1925 and 1939", then I side with @Mersechal first proposal, Balbo. One of the four quadrumvirs, well-known at the national level, very popular both for his aviation cruises and for his handling of Libya, with a long experience at ministry level, member of the Party's Gran Consiglio, and no second to Pavolini when it came to early hands-on violent experience.
If we go with "at an indefinite time between 1925 and 1939", then I side with @Mersechal first proposal, Balbo. One of the four quadrumvirs, well-known at the national level, very popular both for his aviation cruises and for his handling of Libya, with a long experience at ministry level, member of the Party's Gran Consiglio, and no second to Pavolini when it came to early hands-on violent experience.
Highly improbable. First, he was even older than Mussolini, and second, a successor would have been come out from the high rank and file of the PNF, hence the Great Council.
In the early 40's, Ciano was the natural successor - son-in-law, having the second most important role in the government, he put in the administration several puppets of his. Even if surviving, Balbo was still in a position of political inferiority, being governor of Libya - which kept him quite isolated by the government. But we can assume he could have taken a more important role again during whatever major war was affecting Italy and regain ground. Grandi wasn't in a good position either. His positions as ambassador to the UK and President of the chamber of corporations, for prestigious would appear, weren't assigned to prize him, but to keep him in check and line.
Don't forget Mussolini was a dictator, and what a "good" dictator would do to stay in power? Keep in check possible successors, promote and undermine them when necessary. Especially if they may try to overthrow you. Paradoxally, the two men mentioned here as his most viable successors were essentially the ones which brought him to his first fall OTL.
This. Balbo was Mussolini appointed sucessor before his accidental death.
The further we move ahead, the candidates change. On the end of the war Pavolini held the control of the blackshirts and so he's the most likely candidate, however if Italy doesn't joins the war the blackshirts remain as a reserve force and thus he becomes a unlikely figure. If Italy does not join the war and Balbo still dies, then we got Galleazo Ciano.
Somewhat related to this scenario though in a neutral/allied Italy scenario that is backed by the US in the Cold War, was there anyone in the Mussolini regime that could have played a role (had they survived WW2) in transitioning the country to a post-Mussolini democracy in the 1960s loosely akin OTL Spain?
Actually the King could choose the new Head of Government (the official position of Duce as Chiarman of Ministries Council) but only choosing from a list of candidates selected by Great Council of Fascism, according to Leggi Fascistissime. So no Badoglio.
Balbo was strong candidate before his death but this scared Mussolini, who quickly removed him as Air Minister to nominate him as Libya Governor, a move widely read as a sort of political exile. Then he died in a strange air accident. After his fall from grace, Balbo was not so well positioned to succeed Mussolini.
Ciano seems the best candidate: he had the support of National Fascist Party moderate wing headed by Grandi, he could be acceptable to King Umberto II, a man hostile to Fascism, and had a relationship with Mussolini strong enough to be put, in a well positioned place, in the succession list.
Balbo was strong candidate before his death but this scared Mussolini, who quickly removed him as Air Minister to nominate him as Libya Governor, a move widely read as a sort of political exile. Then he died in a strange air accident. After his fall from grace, Balbo was not so well positioned to succeed Mussolini.
Ciano seems the best candidate: he had the support of National Fascist Party moderate wing headed by Grandi, he could be acceptable to King Umberto II, a man hostile to Fascism, and had a relationship with Mussolini strong enough to be put, in a well positioned place, in the succession list.
Modern Imperialism
Banned
I’m going with Ciano out of these three. I see Mussolini likening himself to the Romans a lot so following the Roman trend of adopting a son and making hin his successor seems like something he would do. Depending on how successful Mussolini is during his reign I see Italian fascist propaganda comparing Mussolini to Caesar and Ciano to Octavian.
Modern Imperialism
Banned
Probably less likely with a surviving fascist Italy. What they lack in raw power they might eventually make up for in soft power and alliances. Fascism isn’t as discredited in this situation and these nations aren’t as isolated as otl. Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, South Africa, Rhodesia, and maybe Brazil could all form their own little bloc to help them fight against communism but also push back against the west and US when they demand things like democratization, majority rule, and decolonization. If a bloc like this forms and Italy develops nukes then direct western actions against them are very unlikely and they will act more independently. This could mean a less democratic world especially in Europe.