Rightwing populist Northern League leader Matteo Salvini on Thursday slammed singers at the Sanremo song fest who performed waving LGBT rainbow ribbons in support of a civil-unions bill now before parliament.
"If you don't sing with a rainbow ribbon they don't let you sing," Salvini said while inaugurating a new office in Cagliari of his 'Noi Con Salvini' (Us With Salvini) ticket.
"I respect everyone but a child needs a mother and a father," said Salvini, whose anti-immigrant, anti-euro party is against the civil-unions bill.
Salvini also accused Premier Matteo Renzi of "contesting the EU but then dropping his trousers every time he goes to Brussels".
Anti-fascist demonstrators protesting Salvini's visit clashed with police.
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