Deputy Premier, Transport Minister
and League leader Matteo Salvini has announced that suspended
anti-gay Army General Roberto Vannacci is set to run in June's
European elections.
Vannacci was recently suspended from 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.
"I am happy that a man of value like the general has decided to
pursue his battles for freedom together with the League in the
European Parliament," Salvini said.
Vannacci stressed Thursday night that he was running as "an
independent candidate who maintains his own identity and will
fight, with courage, to affirm his values of Fatherland,
tradition and family".
Speaking Friday on spoof radio show Un Giorno da Pecora (A Day
as a Sheep), Vannacci said "I decided to run in the last few
days. Three days ago. And I wrote a message to Salvini on
WhatsApp. He replied to me that he was very happy with my
decision..
"I thought about it a lot. I'd like to give them (the voters) a
better Italy and a better Europe".
The League's support for the controversial general is not
unanimous.
Already, over the last few days, several high-ranking figures
have said they would prefer to support League insiders rather
than someone who has been parachuted in from outside.
One of these, Friuli Venezia Giula Governor Massimiliano
Fedriga, reiterated Friday he would not be voting for Vannacci.
"I'm very happy with the three candidates proposed by Friuli
Venezia Goilia," he told Un Giorno da Pecora.
"Only three preferences are possible".
Salvini's key ally Premier Giorgia Meloni said last month that a
possible candidacy by Vannacci "would not be a problem".
In his suspension order, the defence ministry pointed to the
"circumstances of the publication of the book" that had not been
cleared by top military brass.
These circumstances allegedly showed a "lack of sense of
responsibility" and caused "injury to the principle of
neutrality of the Armed Force", "compromising the prestige and
reputation of the Administration to which it belongs and
generating possible disruptive and divisive emulative effects
within the military structure".
Vannacci claims the disciplinary measure is in conflict with the
right to freedom of expression guaranteed to all citizens,
including military personnel, and has appealed.
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