The Birth of the Fascist Party  in  Italy

and

Benito Mussolini's

First Victory

as a

Member of the Italian Parliament

Milan, letter-head of Il Popolo d'Italia, 23 April 1921

Mussolini states his political candidacy in the electoral district of Milan-Pavia on the lists of the “Blocco Nationale” [Fascist Party] for the election of 15 May 1921. The 1921 election was the first at which the fascists competed as a party and they won 35 seats in Parliament, including Mussolini's.  Within eighteen months he was Prime Minister of Italy.