He was elected to the Austro-Hungarian Parliament in 1911, and became Secretary-General of the Italian People’s Party (1919–25). From 1929 to 1943 he was given refuge from Mussolini’s regime by the Vatican. He played an important part in creating the Christian Democrat Party as a focus for moderate opinion after the fascist era. De Gasperi was Prime Minister from 1945 to 1953, during which time he adopted a strong stand against communism and in favour of European cooperation.