Italian Army General Roberto
Vannacci, who has been suspended from duty for 11 months
following the publication of his controversial bestseller 'Il
Mondo al Contrario' (The World Back To Front), said Wednesday he
would press ahead in the name of freedom of expression and
confirmed that he is considering standing in the June European
Parliament elections with the right-wing League party of Deputy
Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.
"In 11months there is time to reflect on many things, including
on the invitation from the League to stand as a candidate which,
as I have already said, I am considering," Vannacci told ANSA,
adding that "for the time being" he is not taking a step in that
direction.
Meanwhile, the 55-year-old former paratrooper commander said he
would "continue to move forward and claim freedom of expression"
in relation to the disciplinary measures against him, which come
on top of a separate investigations by Rome prosecutors on
suspicion of instigating hate over the book and by the defence
chiefs of staff for suspected fraud and embezzlement during his
time as military attaché at the Italian embassy in Moscow.
"An investigation a day, the situation is ridiculous: how scary
is the General?" said Salvini, who has always defended Vannacci,
on X.
"Long live freedom of thought and expression, long live the
Armed Forces and the Forces of Law and Order, long live men and
women who every day defend the honour, freedom and security of
Italians," he added.
Vannacci's book claiming, among other things, that gays are not
normal, sparked a storm of controversy following its publication
last August.
In the book, the army general also espouses the Great
Replacement conspiracy theory about mainly Muslim migrants
replacing ethnic Italians, saying only white people can be
Italian, and lauds stand your ground self-defence laws.
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