Right party in Italy: when Mussolini is no longer taboo

In 1922, Benito Mussolini and his fascist party came to power in Italy. 100 years later, a party is in the lead in the polls that does not see the name Mussolini as a flaw.

Giorgia Meloni is currently the most popular politician in Italy, with only Mario Draghi ahead of her in the polls. The leader of the right-wing party Fratelli d’Italia (translated: Brothers of Italy) owes her popularity, among other things, to her talent for clear, people-oriented statements.

A few years ago, the 44-year-old commented on Italy’s darkest recent past: She had a “relaxed relationship with fascism” and Mussolini was a “complex personality who had to be seen in a historical context”.

Party is silent on fascism

Italy’s leading fascism researcher Giulia Albanese from the University of Padua is critical of Meloni and her party: “Brothers of Italy are remarkably silent on the history of fascism. The party is characterized by elements of continuity, especially in cultural and ideological terms.”

This is already expressed in the party symbol, says the Florentine art professor Tomaso Montanari: “Giorgia Meloni’s party does not do what would be sacrosanct: to distance itself clearly from fascism. Because it is deeply interwoven with this history.” It is no coincidence that she has the green-white-red flame in the party symbol, “which in neo-fascist symbolism rises from Mussolini’s coffin,” says Montanari.

At eye level with the Social Democrats

Current polls see this party, the Brothers of Italy, with around 20 percent of the vote – in a head-to-head race for the position as the current leading party in Italy, almost on par with the Social Democrats of the PD.

The success of the right wing formation has to do with the charismatic party leader Meloni, with her role as currently the only major opposition party against the (almost) all-party government of Mario Draghi – but also the lack of grappling with the history and crimes of the fascists by many Italians Role, says fascism researcher Albanese.

“It has not yet penetrated the general consciousness in Italy, what historical research has found out about fascism and its responsibility for violence, for the rise of Nazi rule, also for the Second World War and with regard to the participation in the genocide of the Jews “. This is “not yet part of the everyday knowledge of Italians about fascism”, regrets Albanese.

Little media interest

The history professor blames, among other things, the lack of interest in the Italian media in this subject, but also the fact that this part of Italian history is only briefly touched upon in school lessons, even in high schools. Albanese hopes that on the 100th anniversary of the rise of fascism, a broader discussion on the subject will take place in Italy, which will also influence the current political debate.

“The success of the” Brothers of Italy “is based in part on a widespread ignorance of the subject. Fascism has long been played down in Italy,” she says. Many ignored “what fascism cost the Italians in terms of violence, poverty, dictatorial rule, corruption”.

Meloni evades critical questions

Meloni, chairman of the Brothers of Italy, stressed on the one hand that there was no room for fascists and racists in her party. On the other hand, the former youth minister Silvio Berlusconi’s questions about distancing himself from fascism and instead complains that in “two out of three television discussions” she should say something “about history and not about current politics”.

At the council elections in Rome in the autumn, Meloni’s party had set up, among others, Rachele Mussolini, a granddaughter of the dictator, who publicly polemicized against the Italian day of remembrance for liberation from fascism. The Mussolini granddaughter received the most votes of all the candidates for the “brothers” in the election.