League says suspended anti-gay general to run in EU vote

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 26 - Deputy Premier, Transport Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini has announced that suspended anti-gay Army General Roberto Vannacci is set to run in June's European elections.
    Vannacci was recently suspended from duty for 11 months following a disciplinary procedure sparked by the self-publication last year of his controversial bestseller 'Il Mondo al Contrario' (The World Back To Front).
    In the book Vannacci, a 55-year-old former paratrooper commander, says that gays are not normal.
    The book also espouses the Great Replacement conspiracy theory about mainly Muslim migrants replacing ethnic Italians, suggests only white people can be real Italians, and lauds stand-your-ground self-defence laws.
    Salvini said Vannacci will be among the League's candidates in all of Italy's constituencies.
    "I am happy that a man of value like the general has decided to pursue his battles for freedom together with the League in the European Parliament," Salvini said.
    Vannacci stressed that he was running as "an independent candidate who maintains his own identity and will fight, with courage, to affirm his values of Fatherland, tradition and family". (ANSA).