Attracted to the political left, he nonetheless became impressed with Benito Mussolini after the two met in 1914, and became a staunch advocate of Italy's entry into the World War.

Thus, he persuaded King Victor Emmanuel III to grant him a title in 1937,[1] and he managed to retain a comfortable position until he was sent by Mussolini to the Greek Front with the other Gerarchi in 1941.

As the war began to have its devastating effect on Italy after the Allied invasion of Sicily, Grandi and other members of the Fascist Grand Council met on 24 July 1943.

He then made a motion (Ordine del giorno Grandi) asking King Victor Emmanuel III to resume his full constitutional authority.

Those leading government figures who had voted for the resolution included Giuseppe Bottai and Emilio De Bono as well as Grandi.

While the Allies occupied the south, an alternate Fascist government was established in Northern Italy as the Italian Social Republic.