Matteotti killed by Fascist thugs says Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 30 - Giacomo Matteotti was killed by Fascist thugs, Premier Giorgia Meloni said Thursday marking the 100th anniversary of the Socialist politician's 'death speech' address to parliament denouncing the fraud and violence of Benito Mussolini's taking of power in Italy, a speech that led to his assassination.
    "We are here today to commemorate a free and courageous man killed by Fascist thugs for his ideas," she said at a ceremony in the House.
    "Honouring his memory is fundamental in order to remind ourselves every day, at a distance of 100 years from that speech, of the value of freedom of speech and thought against those who would like presume the right to establish what is permitted to be said and thought and what is not.
    "Matteotti's lesson, today more than ever, reminds us that our democracy is such if it is founded on respect for others, on debate, on liberty, and not on violence".
    Matteotti, 39, on 30 May 1924, openly spoke in the Italian Parliament alleging the Italian fascists committed fraud in the 1924 Italian general election, and denounced the violence they used to gain votes.
    Eleven days later, he was kidnapped and killed by Fascists.
    Mussolini subsequently took responsibility for the assassination and went on to dissolve parliament and assume dictatorial powers. (ANSA).