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June 25th, 2026 – Eleonora Corradi
When the counting of the votes was completed, the result was clear: the Republic received approximately 12.7 million votes, while the Monarchy received about 10.7 million. It was not an overwhelming victory, but it was enough to change the destiny of the country. The House of Savoy, which had led a united Italy since 1861, lost the throne. The last king, Umberto II, went into exile.
From that moment on, the Italian Republic officially came into existence.
The newspaper headline visible in Anna Iberti’s photograph announced exactly this news: “The Italian Republic Is Born.”
The constitution and the new democracy.
At the same time as the referendum, Italians also elected the Constituent Assembly, which was entrusted with writing the new Constitution. Its work lasted more than a year and led to the creation of the Constitution of the Italian Republic, which came into force on January 1, 1948.
Many of the rights that we consider fundamental today originate in that document: freedom of expression, equality before the law, the right to work, and the protection of the individual. Nearly eighty years later, the Constitution remains the cornerstone of Italian democratic life.
Celebrating the eightieth anniversary of the Italian Republic.
On June 2, 2026, Italy celebrated eighty years of the Republic with events throughout the country. In Rome, President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella took part in the traditional ceremonies at the Altare della Patria. As every year, the Frecce Tricolori flew over the capital, painting the sky green, white, and red—the colors of the Italian flag.
Schools, museums, libraries, and cultural associations organized meetings and exhibitions to commemorate the events of 1946 and explain to younger generations the importance of democracy and civic participation.
A smile looking toward the future.
Eighty years later, Anna Iberti’s photograph still speaks to us. It does not show a general, a king, or a politician; instead, it shows a young citizen looking toward the future with confidence. Perhaps this is precisely the reason for its success.
In that smile, we can see the hope of a country that, after war and hardship, was trying to begin again.
When we celebrate Republic Day, we certainly remember a historic date and an important political change. But we also remember the millions of ordinary people who, through their vote, helped build the democratic Italy in which we live today.
And among those people was Anna Iberti, the young woman who, without knowing it, became the face of the Republic.
DID YOU KNOW?
Today, June 2 is a national holiday and a public day off throughout Italy, but it has not always been so. In 1977, during a period of economic difficulty, the government decided to move several civic holidays to Sundays in order to reduce the number of non-working days. Republic Day was also affected by this change and, for several years, was celebrated on the first Sunday of June rather than on June 2.
Only in 2001 was the original date restored, and June 2 once again became an official national holiday. Since then, Italians have once again celebrated the birth of the Republic on the very day when, in 1946, the historic referendum that changed the future of the country took place.
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PAROLE DIFFICILI
Incaricare: affidare a qualcuno un compito o una responsabilità. To entrust someone with a task or a responsibility.
L’Assemblea Costituente fu incaricata di scrivere la nuova Costituzione italiana.
The Constituent Assembly was appointed to write the new Italian Constitution.
Indire: annunciare ufficialmente un’elezione, un referendum o una consultazione pubblica. To officially announce an election, a referendum, or a public consultation.
Nel 1946 il governo indisse un referendum per scegliere tra monarchia e repubblica.
In 1946 the government called a referendum to choose between a monarchy and a republic.
Seggio: il luogo dove i cittadini si recano per votare. The place where citizens go to vote.
Il giorno del referendum milioni di italiani andarono al seggio per votare.
On the day of the referendum, millions of Italians went to the polling station to vote.
Spoglio: il conteggio dei voti dopo la chiusura delle urne. The counting of votes after the closing of the ballot boxes.
Dopo lo spoglio dei voti fu proclamata la vittoria della Repubblica.
After the vote count, the victory of the Republic was officially announced.
Ricorrenza: una data importante che viene ricordata o celebrata periodicamente. An important date that is remembered or celebrated periodically.
L’ottantesima ricorrenza della Repubblica è stata celebrata in tutta Italia.
The eightieth anniversary of the Republic was celebrated throughout Italy.
