In 1865, the Kingdom of Italy created the office of Mayor of Lucca ("Sindaco di Lucca"), appointed by the King himself. From 1892 to 1926 the Mayor was elected by the City council. In 1926, the Fascist dictatorship abolished mayors and City councils, replacing them with an authoritarian "Podestà" chosen by the National Fascist Party. The office of Mayor was restored in 1944 during the Allied occupation.