Salvini stands by Vannacci after disabled students row

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 29 - Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini has said he is standing by suspended anti-gay Army General Roberto Vannacci, who is set to run in June's European elections as a independent candidate on the League's lists, after he came under heavy fire over remarks on disabled school pupils.
    Economy Minister and League bigwig Giancarlo Giorgetti was among the critics of Vannacci over remarks interpreted as a call for disabled students to be put into separate classes.
    Vannacci said the comments were misconstrued and Salvini echoed that position on Monday.
    "We have recruited 13,000 new support teachers and our aim is to include and help everyone, without excluding anyone," Salvini said.
    "More attention is certainly needed for those with the most serious disabilities but my goal is for everyone to grow together.
    "I think that General Vannacci's words have been widely misrepresented".
    Vannacci was recently suspended from Army 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. (ANSA).