Dozens of people in Italy raised their arms in a fascist salute and shouted fascist chants during ceremonies to honor Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution. The nostalgic supporters marched through northern Italian towns, including the birthplace and final resting place of Mussolini. They placed roses in the lake in memory of Mussolini government officials killed during World War II. The commemorations took place in various locations where Mussolini was arrested and executed by anti-fascist partisans, with participants paying tribute to the dictator with salutes and chants.
Police trucks separated the demonstrators from hundreds of protesters who sang the partisan song “Bella Ciao” during the ceremony. The anniversary of Mussolini’s execution coincided with Premier Giorgia Meloni leading her far-right Brothers of Italy party in an election rally in Pescara. Brothers of Italy has historical links to the Italian Social Movement, founded by a chief of staff in Mussolini’s government. However, Meloni has distanced her party from its neo-fascist roots, condemning fascism’s suppression of democracy and emphasizing the party’s commitment to democracy.
Meloni accused the left of being a greater totalitarian threat to Italy today, pointing out that the Communist Party had complained about tent structures for the Brothers of Italy rally. She highlighted her party’s accomplishments since coming to power in 2022 and reaffirmed her working-class roots, urging supporters to write “Giorgia” on the ballot. Meloni’s message echoed her campaign slogans emphasizing her Christian nationalistic messaging. The event marked her announcement to lead the party’s campaign for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June.
The event stirred controversy as the fascist salutes and chants in honor of Mussolini during the ceremonies sparked backlash from those who see them as symbols of totalitarianism and oppression. The presence of police trucks separating demonstrators and protesters highlighted the tensions between different political factions in Italy. Meloni’s efforts to distance her party from its fascist roots and emphasize democracy were overshadowed by the gesture’s nostalgic display honoring Mussolini. The clashes in ideologies and political views were evident during the anniversary commemorations.
The anniversary of Mussolini’s execution and the subsequent commemorations reignited debates about Italy’s historical relationship with fascism and its implications for modern politics. The tensions between left and right-wing parties, as seen in the contrasting views of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party and the Communist Party, reflected broader societal divisions. The use of historical symbols like the fascist salute and chants served as a reminder of the country’s complex past and the ongoing efforts to reconcile with and move beyond it. The events on the anniversary underscored the challenges of addressing political extremism and historical revisionism in Italy.
