2 June: 80 years of the Italian Republic
On 2 June 2026, Italy celebrates the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Republic. On that historic date in 1946, Italians were called to the polls for a constitutional referendum that marked a historic turning point: the majority chose the republican form of government, bringing an end to the monarchy. It was also the first time that Italian women exercised their right to vote at national level, a fundamental step for the country’s democracy.
Since then, the Italian Republic has undergone decades of profound transformation: post-war reconstruction, the economic miracle, the difficult years of terrorism, European integration and the challenges of globalisation. The Constitution, which came into force on 1 January 1948, remains the pillar upon which the democratic system is founded, with its principles of equality, freedom and solidarity.
Eighty years on, this anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made and the challenges still ahead, renewing our commitment to the values that have guided the building of Italian democracy, through recent books that trace the history of these years, available in the Einaudi Foundation library.
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