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Luigi Facta (November 16, 1861 – November 5, 1930) was an Italian politician, journalist and last Prime Minister of Italy before the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini. Facta was born in Pinerolo, Piedmont, Italy. He studied law and later became a journalist. He entered politics in 1892 when he was elected to the chamber of deputies for Pinerolo, a seat which he held for 30 years. Facta, a member of the Italian Liberal Party, served as undersecretary of the justice and interior departments in the coalition cabinets for much of his time in Parliament. He was also finance minister from 1910 until 1912 and 1917 until 1924. At the outbreak of World War I, Facta supported neutrality for Italy, but then supported the war when Italy entered it. His son was killed in the war,and he said that he was proud to give a son to his country. Facta was appointed Prime Minister in February 1922. At the time, Italy was in political turmoil, and was dealing with Mussolini's fascist insurgency. In July 1922, Facta was dismissed from office for not effectively dealing with the fascists, but no one else was able to form a government, so he was again reappointed Prime Minister by the King. Facto did not openly oppose Benito Mussolini, even though the latter had openly called for his resignation, and he was slow to react to insurrectionist attitudes within the population. When Facta did finally react to the mounting situation, it was to declare martial law. Instead of signing Facta's decree, King Victor Emmanuel III again dismissed Facta from office and asked Mussolini to form a government instead, as his forces were by then advancing on Rome in a coup d'état. Facta eventually died in Pinerolo, Italy, with the general population believing him to have been a weak leader who did not stand up for his principles, and, along with King Victor Emanuel III, is largely blamed for Mussolini's seizure of power.
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