instead saw it as a cheap way of curbing the rise of socialism. Even .

             when in the spring of 1921 the clashes had reached riot proportions, .

             the government nonetheless decided that they had succeeded in their .

             aim of disrupting the progress of socialism. Later at the Socialist .

             party congress in January 1921 the PSI split into a revolutionary and .

             a reformist wing. This move was welcomed, if not actually forced by .

             the Fascists. With Socialist support diminishing rapidly, the Fascists .

             gained a vital foothold in Parliament. Primarily, this was achieved .

             through the election of 15 May 1921. Because his party offered action, .

             Mussolini gained from the weakness of the government and from the .

             unrest in the country. During the election the government used Fascist .

             support to unseat Socialist and Catholic deputies; this was mainly .

             done by beating up opponents. Mussolini met little opposition to his.

             actions; the police and prefects remained neutral or actively aided .

             the Fascists with transport and arms. The Fascists performed.

             particularly well in the elections as the figures below show: .

             ---.

             Extreme Nationalists 10.

             Fascists 35 Government bloc (184).

             National Bloc (Gioletti) 139.

             Radicals (Liberal Democrats) 68 Potential centrist.

             Popolari' 107 opposition (175).

             Reformists 29.

             Socialists 123 Left opposition (176).

             Communists 15 Total seats (535).

             National minorities 9.

             ---.

             The Fascists were invited by Prime Minister Gioletti to form a .

             part of his right-wing electoral alliance, thereby promising them,.

             for the first time, some influence in the government as well as in the .

             streets. Gioletti had given the Fascists a chance to become an .

             accepted political force.

             Primarily, Prime Minister Gioletti must be held responsible as .

             one of the main reasons for Mussolini gaining another chance to fight .

             for power. As Mussolini's Fascist Party grew, so seemingly did the .

             incompetence of Gioletti. He became increasingly dependent upon the .