Left-wing media outlet Fanpage claimed to have video evidence of some members of the National Youth uttering racist insults and giving Nazi salutes.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, condemnedracist and anti-Semitic comments of some members of the youth of the ruling ‘Brothers of Italy’ party.
Speaking to the press in Brussels, Meloni stated that anti-Semitism and racism are incompatible with the partyafter two prominent members of the National Youth resigned over alleged anti-Semitic comments against a Jewish senator.
“I have said it many times and I repeat it, I believe that those who have racist, anti-Semitic or nostalgic feelings have simply come to the wrong house, because these feelings are incompatible with the ‘Brothers of Italy’ (Fratelli d’Italia – FdI), They are incompatible with the Italian rightson incompatible with the political line which we have clearly defined in recent years, and therefore I do not accept that there are ambiguities in this regard“, said.
Meloni’s statements come after the publication of a report in the leftist newspaper ‘Fanpage’, in which it was claimed to have video and audio recordings of some members of the National Youth uttering racist insults and making the nazi salute.
But Meloni also criticized the information methods of ‘Fanpage’:
Meloni added: “It had never even been considered that they could infiltrate a political organization, secretly record their meetings, also record the personal affairs of minors.”
The ‘Fanpage’ investigationtitled ‘Melonian Youth’, has shocked the ‘Brothers of Italy’ at the same time as Meloni has tried to cement his reputation as a moderate voice on the EU scene.
There has also been outrage among members of the Jewish Community of Romeand some have called on Meloni to punish youth members exposed in the investigation.
“The Jewish Community of Rome condemns the shameful images of racism and anti-Semitism arising from the ‘Fanpage’ investigation,” President Victor Fadlun posted on X.
He has urged the party to take “appropriate measures”, stating that it is “imperative that society” react against discrimination.
‘Brothers of Italy’ has its roots in the ‘Italian Social Movement’ (MSI), formed in 1946 as the successor to Benito Mussolini’s fascist movement, which ruled Italy for more than 20 years.
Meloni has repeatedly condemned the racist and anti-Jewish laws enacted by Mussolini in 1938, in an attempt to turn his party into a mainstream conservative force.
But also has ignored calls to declare himself anti-fascistwhich has led some of his critics to claim that he has not completely distanced himself from neo-fascism.
