The repeated use of the expression "strong and stable government" in this election is interesting. In fact it's chilling.

That was the very phrase used in the same repeated way in the rise of fascism, as cited in numerous accounts of that period.

"Mussolini and Fascism promised a strong stable government and an end to the political fighting."

It's also noteworthy that in Mussolini's rhetoric at least there was often far more venom against "liberals" than against Communists - "I know the Communists. I know them because some of them are my children…". "Tomorrow, Fascists and communists, both persecuted by the police, may arrive at an agreement, sinking their differences until the time comes to share the spoils. I realise that though there are no political affinities between us, there are plenty of intellectual affinities."