Umberto II of Italy in preparation on the abolition of the monarchy in 1946, Victor Emmanuel abdicated his throne in favour of Umberto in the hope his exit might bolster the monarchy. However, the referendum passed, Italy was declared a republic, and Umberto lived out the rest of his life in exile in Cascais, on the Portuguese Riviera. Umberto was born at the Castle of Racconigi in Piedmont. He was the third child, and the only son, of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and his wife, Elena of Montenegro. As such, he became heir apparent upon his birth, since the Italian throne was
Parties in the European Council between May and December 2004 council, in accordance with the system of Qualified Majority Voting. – Transitional QMV system with 124 total votes and a qualified majority of 88 (70.97%), in use until 1 November 2004. <br> – Final EU-25 QMV system with 321 total votes and a qualified majority of 232 (72.27%). DIKO's MEP joined the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group in the European Parliament, but the party is not formally attached to any pan-European organization. Parties in the European Council between May and December 2004 On the 1 May 2004 ten new member states joined the European Union. This article