Italy to become a republic as royal family heads into exile. On 6 June 1946 Italy became a republic after Rome radio announced referendum results. Votes for a republic totalled 12,182,855 while 10,362,709 supported the monarchy. Results covered 34,112 of 35,236 polling districts. Official figures were due on Sunday, after which former King Umberto was expected to depart for Egypt, where his father Victor Emmanuel already resided. His wife and family had travelled to Naples to meet him. Northern Italy supported a republic while central and southern regions, except Umbria, backed the monarchy along with Sicily and Sardinia. Rome split almost evenly with 677,000 votes for the monarchy and 619,000 against. Latest election returns showed the Christian Democrats leading the Socialists by roughly three million votes, with the Communists close behind. Editorial comment noted that seventy-four years after Mazzini’s death half his vision was fulfilled as Italy became a republic for the first time. The Savoy monarchy was viewed as an imposed solution rather than a natural development. The referendum majority was clear yet narrow, and many in the south remained loyal to the monarchy. On 11 June the supreme court formally announced nearly complete returns in a ceremony at parliament. Premier de Gasperi stated the republic was effectively established and that Umberto would leave still holding the title of king. From that evening de Gasperi served as both prime minister and head of state until the Constituent Assembly elected Italy’s first president. By 14 June Umberto had left for exile in Portugal.
