Salandra, Antonio (1853–1931)

Italian politician and prime minister, March 1914– June 1916. After Giovanni Giolitti's resignation in March 1914, he became prime minister; rejecting the former's policy of neutrality, he began working for Italy's intervention in World War I. The intractable problem of the Italian irredenta led Salandra to desert the Central Powers. By the secret Treaty of London (April 1915) Italy was committed to join the Allies and in return was promised territorial compensation in Trentino, Trieste, and Dalmatia. Parliamentary opposition to the war led to Salandra's resignation in May 1915 in order to avoid an open debate, but the pressure of pro-intervention demonstrations in the country led to his reinstatement by the king. In this way the parliamentary majority was over-ridden and war was declared on Austria on 23 May. In the same year Salandra justified Italy's rupture with the Triple Alliance on the grounds of sacro egoismo. Criticism of the management of the war led to Salandra's resignation in June 1916.

He rose to prominence as a right-wing critic of Giolitti. He served in Sidney Sonnino's Cabinets in 1906 and 1909. He continued to exercise influence amongst conservative interventionists, and supported Mussolini before and after he came to power.