A Rome military judge on Thursday
rejected request to dismiss proceedings in which General Roberto
Vannacci, who was elected to the European Parliament as an
independent for the rightwing League party a few days ago, is
under investigation for incitement to racial hatred in reference
to what he wrote in his controversial bestseller 'Il mondo al
contrario' (The World Upside Down).
The judge set a hearing for 25 September next.
The proceedings had been initiated after a number of complaints,
including one from the Military Union and the association Triple
Defence.
"At the moment we only know that the preliminary investigations
judge has rejected the prosecutor's request, but in the coming
days we will ask for the papers.
"It is a decision that we do not understand because the case in
question is not a military offence,' commented lawyer Giorgio
Carta, Vannacci's defence counsel.
Vannacci, 55, was the top vote getter for the League in last
weekend's European elections.
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