Giovanni Amendola

Giovanni Amendola in 1923

**Giovanni Amendola** (born 15 April 1882) is a Neapolitan journalist and politician serving as the current Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Naples under King Luigi IV. A member of the Neapolitan Liberal Party, he previously served as the Minister of the Colonies from 1919 to 1920.

Amendola's tenure as Prime Minister, which commenced in 1921, is marked by his unwavering commitment to promoting liberal policies across the Kingdom. His agenda primarily includes the advocacy for electoral reforms aimed at simplifying the voting process, the facilitation of labor union rights, among other progressive programs. Notably, while championing these liberal causes, Amendola remains a staunch monarchist. To advance his political objectives, he has adeptly forged alliances with moderate conservative factions within the National Assembly.

Despite his two prior terms in office, Amendola's party and policies continue to enjoy significant popularity among the general population. Hence, he is often nicknamed in tabloids and newspapers as **The Liberal Dictator**.

## Early Life

Giovanni Amendola was born in Naples on April 15, 1882, to parents Pietro Amendola and Adelaide Bianchi. His father, originally from Sarno, served in the military. Amendola's early political inclinations led him to join various union rallies and express socialist views when he was just fifteen years old. However, as he matured, he transitioned towards liberalism.

Amendola began contributing articles to the Neapolitan Liberal Party newspaper, "The Informed Nation." His writings covered a wide range of topics, from theology to economic affairs. His early work, often characterized as modernist and rationalist, garnered both praise and criticism from intellectuals.

## Political Career

### Early Occupations

Giovanni Amendola's political journey began when he was elected to the National Assembly during the 1913 Neapolitan Election. His influence as a published author allowed him to rise through the ranks of the opposition Liberal Party. In 1917, when the Liberal Party achieved victory under the leadership of Pietro Rosano, Amendola was appointed as Minister for the Colonies due to his close ties with the party leader. In this role, he pursued liberal policies in the Neapolitan colonies, granting them more autonomy.

Following Rosano's death in 1920, the party's interim leader, Francesco Trinchera, who leaned more to the left, had disagreements with the new King, Luigi IV. This forced Trinchera to withdraw from the 1921 Neapolitan Election. Instead, the party nominated the young and charismatic Amendola as their candidate. Some within the party believed that a fresh face like Amendola, with his fiery personality, could rebrand the party and make it more appealing to workers and intellectuals.

### First Term

Despite not being the expected winner, Amendola succeeded in defeating his opponent, Ferdinando Del Carretto di Novello of the Neapolitan Agrarian Party, and became the Prime Minister of Naples in December 19, 1921.

Upon taking office as Prime Minister, Giovanni Amendola made a priority of mending the strained relationship between the Liberal Party and King Luigi IV by explicitly expressing support for the monarchy. During the initial months of his tenure, he also worked to strengthen ties with the conservative faction of the party. Consequently, his first cabinet during his initial term was predominantly composed of establishment and monarchist liberal politicians.

Giovanni Amendola played a crucial role in advancing voting rights in the Kingdom of Naples, implementing significant reforms aimed at making the electoral process more accessible. His efforts culminated in the signing of the Voting Accessibility Bill of 1922. During this period, his political party gained widespread popularity among the Neapolitan population. However, Amendola's actions were not without controversy, as they were accompanied by various scandals. Notably, the Ballot Scandal of 1922 came to light, revealing that the voting accessibility reforms seemed to be favoring areas sympathetic to Amendola. In response, Amendola distanced himself from the image of a champion of voting reforms.

Backed by the support of King Luigi IV and a cabinet aligned with his interests, Amendola assumed a central role in the political landscape. This dominance extended both within his party and across the nation.

### Second Term

The liberal secured his re-election in the 1925 Neapolitan Election, defeating his opponent Ferdinando Del Carretto di Novello as expected. His second term as Prime Minister faced the challenges of an economic crisis. Despite these difficulties, Amendola's leadership remained steadfast, and his popularity saw only marginal decline.

During this period, Amendola focused on expanding Naples' naval capabilities and introduced a series of infrastructure bills aimed at improving the kingdom's road and railway networks. The influx of foreign investments into Naples facilitated a population boom and led to significantly improved living conditions for the general population.

### Third Term

In the 1929 Neapolitan Election, Giovanni Cuomo, representing the Agrarian Party, challenged Amendola's position as Prime Minister. Despite gaining a few seats and forcing the liberals to a minority, Cuomo's party was once again defeated, prompting the Agrarian Party to shift toward a more nationalistic and monarchist stance in an attempt to appeal to urban, military, and farming voters.

During this period, the Democratic Reform party, a socialist and progressive alternative, began gaining popularity, drawing support from former Amendola backers who felt alienated by his increasingly monarchist and conservative leanings.

Concerned by these political developments, Amendola made efforts to cooperate more with social democrats to counter the rise of the Democratic Reform party. His third term primarily focused on completing his infrastructure plan to connect the Kingdom and initiate a gradual process of industrialization, although Naples remained predominantly an agrarian economy. He also implemented a more isolationist policy that strained his relationship with monarchists. Revelations of his previous offensive statements, including comments about the king, emerged through newspapers and tabloids, leading to a cooling of their relationship.

### Fourth Term

In the 1933 Neapolitan Election, Giovanni Amendola secured a small minority victory against the relatively unknown but nationalistic Domenico Milani of the Agrarian Party. Both the Liberal Party and the Agrarian Party experienced significant seat losses as the Democratic Reform party continued to gain momentum. By that point, it was evident that the Democratic Reform party was on track to potentially win a future election.

During his fourth term, Giovanni Amendola prioritized unifying the Liberal Party and restoring his own reputation, following the challenges faced during his third term. His efforts led to the expansion of industry, resulting in increased production of military and civilian goods, contributing to the Kingdom's growth. Nevertheless, his tenure also saw a rise in union influence and socialist movements.

The political landscape became further polarized, making it increasingly difficult for Amendola to pass legislation, especially as he held a minority in the National Assembly. Faced with these challenges, he sought the King's support to implement policies, but his attempts were unsuccessful.

To advance his policy agenda, Amendola forged alliances with the moderate faction of the Democratic Reform party, enabling the passage of progressive policies with a focus on greater government intervention in the economy, particularly in areas such as education and infrastructure. Despite these domestic policy shifts, his stance on foreign policy remained consistent, and he continued to support the monarchy.

In the lead-up to the 1937 Neapolitan election, influential Agrarian politicians such as Aurelio Padovani and Giovanni Messe are reportedly contemplating the possibility of entering the race as candidates. Simultaneously, Arturo Labriola is considering a potential run for the Democratic Reform party.

Giovanni Amendola has not officially confirmed his candidacy for the 1937 Neapolitan Election.

## Assessment

Giovanni Amendola's political career has left a lasting impact on Neapolitan politics. His popularity, particularly during his early terms, and his ability to shape policies have earned him the moniker "The Liberal Dictator." However, his influence and policies have also played a role in the political polarization within the country. As is often the case with influential political figures, opinions about him vary widely, with supporters drawing comparisons to admired figures like Luigi Settembrini.

Despite, his rather non-partisan stance, he indirectly contributed to the growing polarization in Naples.

## Personal Life

Giovanni Amendola has been married to the Russian intellectual Eva Oscarovna Kühn since 1907. The couple has four children: Giorgio (born 1907), Adelaide (born 1910), Antonio (born 1916), and Pietro (born 1918).

Amendola was also a Freemason, although he left the organization in 1908.