Lower House Speaker Roberto Fico has
been lashed with criticism after a video appeared Wednesday
online of him standing with his hands in his pockets during the
playing of the national anthem.
The anthem was played as part of a commemoration ceremony for
the victims of a May 23, 1992 attack on an anti-mafia judge.
Fico is from the anti-establishment party Five Star Movement
(M5S).
Democratic Party (PD) senator Vito Vattuone called it in a
Facebook post "disheartening" to see "the man in the third
highest position in the government taking part in such a serious
ceremony without speaking and with his hands in his pockets,
showing an embarrassed indifference".
Another senator from the same party, Monica Cirinnà, said
that "the real face of the much flaunted M5S change' is coming
to the surface: no respect for Italians, its institutions,
legality and democracy".
The mayor of Palermo, Leoluca Orlando, stressed instead that
polemics should be avoided and that the most important thing is
"the message that this city has changed deeply. The presence of
Chamber Speaker Roberto Fico was very much appreciated."
Maria Falcone, the sister of the judge targeted, Giovanni
Falcone, said that everyone could sing the anthem as they saw
fit and that "this is not such a serious matter".
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