Topline
Italy is heading to the polls for a closely watched election that will likely see the far-right Brothers of Italy party win and hand the nation its first woman prime minister—and the party triggered fresh controversy as it suspended one of its candidates this week after social media posts surfaced showing him praising Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
People wave flags at a Brothers of Italy party rally in Ancona, Italy, on August 23, 2022. (AP … [+]
Key Facts
Calogero Pisano, an Italian parliament candidate from Sicily, had called Hitler a “great statesman” and in 2014 said “I’m with Vladimir Putin,” according to Facebook posts unearthed by Italian newspaper la Repubblica.
Pisano has also reportedly compared party leader Giorgia Meloni, who is widely expected to be Italy’s next prime minister, to Hitler and hailed her as a “modern fascist.”
Pisano’s posts were widely condemned, with the president of the Jewish Community of Rome tweeting: “It is unacceptable that those who praise Hitler can sit in the next Parliament.”
A hard-right coalition is expected to take control of parliament, with the Brothers of Italy the overwhelming favorite to capture the most seats, making Meloni prime minister.
Other parties in the coalition include Matteo Salvini’s Lega and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia.
Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of the Five Star Movement is the leading left-wing challenger, but polls suggest he has little chance of retaking his old post.
What To Watch For
Italy’s election is Sunday.
Key Background
A snap election is taking place in Italy following months of political turmoil, headlined by Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s resignation in July and the dissolution of parliament after Draghi failed to win an absolute majority in a confidence vote taken by lawmakers, following tensions over the country’s economic policies.
Tangent
Brothers of Italy was founded in 2012 but has roots in the Italian Social Movement, which was created in 1946 as a de facto successor to Benito Mussolini’s Republican Fascist Party. Brothers for Italy has faced wide criticism for so-called fascist leanings, such as a strong stance against accepting migrants. The party has risen rapidly from the fringes since the 2018 election, when its candidates received only about 4% of the vote. Much of the rise appears to be the appeal of Meloni, who has portrayed herself as a candidate committed to traditional Italian values that would bring stability after years of a tumultuous Italian government.
Further Reading
Italy’s frontrunner party suspends candidate over Hitler praise (Reuters)
Calogero Pisano, il candidato FdI che inneggia a Hitler e Putin. Poi sospeso (la Repubblica)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/09/20/far-right-party-poised-to-win-italys-election-suspends-candidate-who-praised-hitler-and-putin/