Vannacci pledges to 'press ahead' in name of freedom

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 28 - Italian Army General Roberto Vannacci, who has been suspended from duty for 11 months following the publication of his controversial bestseller 'Il Mondo al Contrario' (The World Back To Front), said Wednesday he would press ahead in the name of freedom of expression and confirmed that he is considering standing in the June European Parliament elections with the right-wing League party of Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.
    "In 11months there is time to reflect on many things, including on the invitation from the League to stand as a candidate which, as I have already said, I am considering," Vannacci told ANSA, adding that "for the time being" he is not taking a step in that direction.
    Meanwhile, the 55-year-old former paratrooper commander said he would "continue to move forward and claim freedom of expression" in relation to the disciplinary measures against him, which come on top of a separate investigations by Rome prosecutors on suspicion of instigating hate over the book and by the defence chiefs of staff for suspected fraud and embezzlement during his time as military attaché at the Italian embassy in Moscow.
    "An investigation a day, the situation is ridiculous: how scary is the General?" said Salvini, who has always defended Vannacci, on X.
    "Long live freedom of thought and expression, long live the Armed Forces and the Forces of Law and Order, long live men and women who every day defend the honour, freedom and security of Italians," he added.
    Vannacci's book claiming, among other things, that gays are not normal, sparked a storm of controversy following its publication last August.
    In the book, the army general also espouses the Great Replacement conspiracy theory about mainly Muslim migrants replacing ethnic Italians, saying only white people can be Italian, and lauds stand your ground self-defence laws. (ANSA).