Italy Meloni admonishes party after racism revelations
Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is calling her own party to order following revelations of racist and anti-Semitic remarks in the youth organization. The leader of the largest governing party, Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy), wrote in a published letter: "There is no place for racist or anti-Semitic positions in the Fratelli d'Italia." Anyone who sees it differently should leave. Meloni has been at the head of a coalition of three right-wing parties in Rome for almost two years.
02.07.2024, 20:02
SDA
The head of government was reacting to the results of an undercover investigation into the youth organization of her party, Gioventù Nazionale (National Youth). Journalists from the news portal Fanpage had uncovered openly fascist, racist and anti-Semitic statements, including shouts such as "Sieg Heil". Video footage shows the youngsters giving the fascist salute. A Jewish senator from the Fratelli, Ester Mieli, was also disparaged.
The party, which was only founded in 2012, has its roots in Italy's post-fascist movement. Meloni herself used to be a member of the youth organization of the predecessor party MSI, which was founded by supporters of the dictator Benito Mussolini (1883-1945).
In the letter, she writes: "Our task is too great to be ruined by those who have not understood its scope. I have no time - and neither do we - to waste with those who do not understand what the Fratelli d'Italia are and what the great challenges of our time are."
Meloni is the first woman to head an Italian government since October 2022. In last month's European elections, she was even able to improve on the result of the parliamentary elections to almost 29%. She has proved reliable in the EU and NATO so far.
Nevertheless, there is still skepticism as to how far her distancing from fascism actually goes. In an initial reaction last week, she complained about the methods used by investigative reporters.
In the letter, she also warned her own party not to allow itself to become a "tool in the hands of the enemy". Anyone who does not understand this "cannot be part of the Fratelli d'Italia". She added verbatim: "Out with those who want us to turn back." There was no place in the party "for nostalgics of 20th century totalitarianism or for any manifestation of stupid folklore". Meloni does not use the term anti-fascism in the letter. Nor does she describe herself as an anti-fascist.
