Members of the far-right Forza
Nuova (FN) group lit flares outside the Rome HQ of liberal daily
La Repubblica Wednesday and threw a couple at staff, showing an
FN flag and a placard saying "Boycott La Repubblica and (sister
weekly) l'Espresso".
FN said it was the first stage of a "war" on La Repubblica
and the ruling centre-left Democratic Party (PD).
La Repubblica tweeted: "Fascism, Forza Nuova expedition under
the La Repubblica HQ: masked militants throw flares".
The protesters read out a series of accusations against La
Repubblica and l'Espresso.
One FN member was arrested after the incident and "his
position is being weighed," police said.
The Green Party was among the first to voice solidarity with
La Repubblica over the incident.
Premier Paolo Gentiloni, a prominent PD member, phoned La
Repubblica editor Mario Calabresi to voice his solidarity.
Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso called the incident "a serious
Fascist attack".
Justice Minister Andrea Orlando, also of the PD, said "this
incident gives the lie to all those who deemed that the
attention given to this issue was excessive".
He said "there is an extremism which has reared its head,
which is contrary to Constitutional values, and to our freedoms,
and I think the Italian State and society must affirm those
values on which our Constitution is based.
Interior Minister Marco Minniti, another top PD member, said
the incident was "a criminal and unacceptable act".
"You can't be an organised group that declares war on ideas,"
he said.
PD leader and ex-premier Matteo Renzi tweeted: "My solidarity
and that of the PD to La Repubblica and its journalists. They
don't scare us. That past will not return #forward".
Roberto Speranza of the Free and Equal group said the
incident was "unacceptable".
Undeterred, FN wrote on Facebook that the "assault" was "a
declaration of war against the l'Espresso group" while its
leader Roberto Fiore said it was also "the first act of war
against the PD".
"Wretches, we won't give you any let-up", said FN, saying
they represented "all Italians betrayed by those who favour ius
soli, invasion and ethnic replacement".
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