The Roman greetings displayed by hundreds of neo-fascists last January 7 in Rome, on the occasion of the commemoration of the Acca Larentia massacre, generated strong controversy between the majority and the opposition.
Although the ritual has been repeated undisturbed for years under governments of different colors, the secretary of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein has asked explanations to the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi and called for a position taken by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The prime minister, at least for the moment, has not commented on the incident. His deputy, Antonio Tajani, instead condemned the episode and reiterated Forza Italia's anti-fascism, while the president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, a member of Fratelli d'Italia, declared the party's non-involvement with the Roman greetings , also underlining how the gesture, according to various sentences, does not constitute a crime.
In the last few hours, a video dating back to 2008 has emerged to fuel tensions in which Meloni, at the time Minister of Youth in the Berlusconi government, can be seen taking part in the commemoration for the Acca Larentia accompanied by one of the most prominent figures of the extreme right: Giuliano Castellino.
Castellino, a militant during the years of Casapound and Forza Nuova, was recently sentenced to 8 years and 7 months for the attack on the CGIL headquarters on 9 October 2021.
During the ceremony of 7 January 2008 Meloni did not participate – let it be clear – in the usual ritual of Roman greetings for the “fallen comrades”, but limited himself to going to the site of the massacre to pay homage to the victims.
This year, the president of the Lazio Region Francesco Rocca (of Fratelli d'Italia) and the Councilor for Culture of the Municipality of Rome Miguel Gotor (of the Democratic Party) also took part in the commemoration of the Acca Larentia. The two placed a wreath of flowers and then left. Only later did the neo-fascists stand at attention to salute the Romans.
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