Fascism commemoration in Italy: “A coincidence of history”

Giorgia Meloni has become Italy’s new prime minister – almost 100 years to the day after Mussolini came to power. Opponents of fascism are now mobilizing to protest on the anniversary of the “March on Rome”.

In Italy these are usually the days of Mussolini nostalgics, old and new fascists. At the end of October, they have been coming together for decades to commemorate Benito Mussolini and the fascists’ seizure of power in 1922.

The main site of the annual Mussolini worship is Predappio in Emilia-Romagna, the birthplace of the fascist dictator. There are always several hundred, mostly over a thousand participants. They then shout “Comrade Mussolini – present!”, some raise their arm in the Hitler salute.

Antifascist demo in the symbolic place of the fascists

This year, democratic parties, trade unions and associations want to do something to counteract this – also in Predappio. On the anniversary of Mussolini’s so-called March on Rome, the partisan association ANPI organizes an anti-fascist demonstration in the symbolic place of the fascists. In Predappio, the Allies and the Italian partisans are to be remembered, who also liberated the town in one day at the end of October.

This is a rally against Mussolini nostalgia, says local ANPI chairman Miro Gori. But also a message to Rome, where Giorgia Meloni now governs, with a party that has neo-fascist roots. They want to show, says Gori, that “there are forces in the country – associations, trade unions and other groups in civil society – that guarantee democracy.” They would see to it “that this undoubtedly democratically elected government now governs in full respect of the constitution, which is anti-fascist.”

Gori, who comes from a family of partisans, calls the first personnel decisions made by the winner of the election, Meloni, questionable. Among other things, he points out that Ignazio La Russa has become President of the Senate – a man who is proud that there is a statue of Mussolini in his living room.

Expert: History of fascism insufficiently processed

Giulia Albanese, a professor in Padua and Italy’s leading researcher on fascism, warns against playing down Mussolini and fascism. The fascist regime, she says, was “a dictatorship, a totalitarian regime that controlled Italian society, gradually excluding all opponents from the protection of society, persecuting them”. At the same time, says the fascism expert, it also “constructed a project of rule at European and international level.” This became visible with the rise of the National Socialists to power.

Not only in Italy, but throughout Europe, Albanese criticizes, the history of fascism has not been adequately processed – significantly less than that of National Socialism. Regarding current political developments in Italy, and Giorgia Meloni taking over the government just on the 100th anniversary of the “March on Rome,” the history professor says: “That makes a certain impression. But it’s a coincidence of history.” A coincidence, says Albanese, that may make Italians more sensitive and more responsive “when political action gives cause for concern.”

March of the old and neo-fascists

Demo organizer Miro Gori hopes that on the anniversary of the fascist seizure of power as many as possible will take to the streets in Mussolini’s birthplace for democracy and the rule of law. No support for the demonstration came from Mayor Predappios, a man from the Meloni party, Brothers of Italy. He has declined to take over the patronage of the event. Gori thinks that’s a worrying signal: “From our point of view, the mayor undoubtedly made a mistake.” Normally, the patronage would be accepted without any problems “at demonstrations of this kind, which are peaceful, democratic and anti-fascist”.

Two days after the demonstration of the opponents of fascism, old and new fascists also want to march in Predappio. On Sunday, as they do every year around the anniversary of the fascist seizure of power, they are planning a march to Mussolini’s grave in the local cemetery.

Whether and how Giorgia Meloni will comment on the 100th anniversary of the “March on Rome” is not yet known. The Democratic Party, the largest opposition force in parliament, has called for a gathering in Rome at the monument to Giacomo Matteotti – in memory of the socialist member of parliament who was shot by fascists at the beginning of Mussolini’s regime.