Giacomo Matteotti was killed by
Fascist thugs, Premier Giorgia Meloni said Thursday marking the
100th anniversary of the Socialist politician's 'death speech'
address to parliament denouncing the fraud and violence of
Benito Mussolini's taking of power in Italy, a speech that led
to his assassination.
"We are here today to commemorate a free and courageous man
killed by Fascist thugs for his ideas," she said at a ceremony
in the House.
"Honouring his memory is fundamental in order to remind
ourselves every day, at a distance of 100 years from that
speech, of the value of freedom of speech and thought against
those who would like presume the right to establish what is
permitted to be said and thought and what is not.
"Matteotti's lesson, today more than ever, reminds us that our
democracy is such if it is founded on respect for others, on
debate, on liberty, and not on violence".
Matteotti, 39, on 30 May 1924, openly spoke in the Italian
Parliament alleging the Italian fascists committed fraud in the
1924 Italian general election, and denounced the violence they
used to gain votes.
Eleven days later, he was kidnapped and killed by Fascists.
Mussolini subsequently took responsibility for the assassination
and went on to dissolve parliament and assume dictatorial
powers.
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