A week ago, hundreds of neofascists commemorated the death of three far-right activists, including two killed by far-left activists, on January 7, 1978, during the “years of lead”. This tribute in front of the ancient Roman headquarters of the Italian Social Movement (MSI) revives the controversy over those nostalgic for fascism. Especially since for fifteen months Italy has been governed by Giorgia Meloni, leader of Fratelli d’Italia, a distant heir of the MSI. A video showing a black tide of humans performing the fascist salute and chanting the slogan “ Present! » went around the world. But, since then, has the head of government condemned this event?
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With our correspondent in Rome,
Giorgia Meloni did not say a word about this event while the opposition remains outraged by the actions which followed the institutional commemoration. That said, elected officials from his party spoke out. Senate President Ignazio La Russa said Frattelli d’Italia had no responsibility. For his part, MP Giovanni Donzelli deplored the presence of “ two hundred fools to the non-institutional tribute “. In fact, Foreign Minister and Forza Italia leader Antonio Tajani is the only member of the executive who has explicitly reiterated his party’s anti-fascist stance.
Identification
The police anti-terrorist unit has already identified around a hundred participants in this commemoration including members of CasaPound, a neofascist movement, affiliates of the small group Veneto Fronte Skinhead and Forza Nuova, another neofascist movement. But also German and Russian neo-Nazis. Among the people identified, around ten were indicted for “apology of fascism”.
Rare convictions
Concerning the penalties provided for this type of crime, two laws dating from 1952 and 1993 make it possible to punish the propaganda of fascism with prison stays ranging from six months to twelve years. But convictions are rare. According to judgments of the Constitutional Court, the “apology of fascism” is considered an offense if it is part of an attempt to rebuild a fascist party. And, according to decisions of the Court of Cassation, it constitutes an offense when freedom of expression transforms into incitement to violence or racial discrimination. This shows how definitively turning the page on fascism proves to be complex in Italy.
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