Italian Neo-fascists Gather to Salute in Rome, The Prime Minister Plays Dumb

On January 7th, social media captured hundreds of far-right Italians gathering around in Via Acca Larenzia, Rome, to commemorate 3 previous members of the Italian Social Movement(Movimento Sociale Italiano) who were killed by left-wing activists in 1978.

Italian Social Movement was a far-right, neo-fascist political party formed by supporters of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini after World War II. It was present until the 1990s before it merged into the Italian Democratic Party of Monarchist Unity(Partito Democratico Italiano di Unità Monarchica). The current ruling party of Italy, Brothers of Italy(Fratelli d'Italia) is one of the successors of the former Italian Social Movement Party. 

The protestors in Rome performed a radical gesture named the Roman Salute, referring to Italian Fascism, similar to Sieg Heil Salute(a.k.a. Nazi Salute). The gesture was widely performed in the 1940s axis Italy(The Kingdom of Italy), favored by Benito Mussolini and other Italian fascists. Today, the gesture has become a radical symbol of fascism in Europe, legally banned in some countries such as Italy, Germany, and Austria.

The current Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has been urged to take immediate action regarding neo-fascism issues and protests that have occurred recently. 

However, the response of the prime minister of Italy was rather lukewarm; as she remarked that fascism is a past history. The PM also mentioned that the protest had nothing to do with her or the Brothers of Italy(FDI); claiming that the protest was conducted by a completely irrelevant force.

Giorgia Meloni and the Brothers of Italy have been condemned by the correlation with Benito Mussolini, as their party has some historical relevance with the previous fascist regime. However, Giorgia Meloni claims that she and her party have no correspondence with fascism at all, but rather a “Modern Conservatism” that embraces Christianity and traditional standards. 

Conservatism is indeed a universal and accepted idea. However, fascism cannot be tolerated as something that is “morally appropriate”. The Italian government must respond urgently and responsibly in order to prevent its dark history repeating itself.