Brussels – The shameful scene of Acca Larenzia, where hundreds of nostalgic neo-fascists gathered shouting “Present” while doing the Roman salute, goes beyond national borders and lands at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. At the urging of the Socialist and Democratic (S&D) parties, on January 16, there will be a debate on the “Fight against the resurgence of neo-fascism in Europe, also based on the demonstration held in Rome on January 7”. The Conference of Presidents, the body comprising the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and the group leaders of the different political groups, approved the debate. Representatives from the Council of the EU and the European Commission will also take part.
Not only the S&D but even the moderate right immediately condemned the images of the commemoration of the January 7, 1978 Acca Larentia massacre, in which two young neo-fascists belonging to the Youth Front were killed. The leader of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, commented harshly: “In Europe, there is no place for the fascist salute.” Meanwhile, the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, was called to answer in Montecitorio on the incident. “The spirit of the commemoration of such grave tragedies as that of Acca Larenzia, which resulted in the cowardly murder of young lives and which remains without justice, is betrayed by the re-proposition of gestures and symbols that represent an era condemned by history,” he said in the chamber.
What is striking, however, is the silence of the premier, Giorgia Meloni, who has not yet distanced herself from what happened in Rome. “To be credible in Brussels, one cannot remain silent as the premier is doing,” said 5 Star Movement MEP Tiziana Beghin. Who then stepped up the dose, hinting at a possible hostile attitude towards the Italian government at the Strasbourg hemicycle debate: “To all those who today say they are shocked, let us remember that at the commemoration of Acca Larentia in 2008 also Giorgia Meloni was present.” At the time, she was Minister of Youth in the Berlusconi government.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
