Milan prosecutors on Thursday opened
what they said was an "exploratory" probe into an alleged
Fascist salute made by a Brothers of Italy (FdI) Lombardy
councillor which may fall foul of laws against apology of
Fascism.
Lombardy Executive Councillor for Security Romano La Russa is
under fire after he apparently joined other mourners making a
straight-armed fascist salute at the funeral of his
brother-in-law, a historic figure on the Italian right in Milan.
A video of the incident went viral online and sparked calls for
Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana, of the League, and La Russa's
party, Giorgia Meloni's FdI,, to reprimand him.
La Russa, the younger brother of former defence minister and FdI
bigwig Ignazio La Russa, said it was not a fascist salute but
part of a usual funeral ritual saluting his fallen comrade,
brother-in-law Alberto Stabilini.
Milan prosecutors said Thursday their prove had not yet posited
possible charges or placed anyone under investigation.
They said the probe had been opened on the basis of video
footage of the alleged incident.
League leader Matteo Salvini said Thursday that La Russa "could
have spared us a Roman salute".
He said: "When I go to a funeral I pray and I don't raise my arm
in a straight-arm salute. He certainly could have spared us it".
He said it was up to Governor Fontana to decide whether La Russa
should now quit as security councillor as a result of the
furore.
FdI is spearheading a centre right alliance comprising the
League and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (FI) party for
Sunday's general election, which it is expected to win
potentially making Meloni Italy's first woman premier.
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