Anti-gay general to run with League in EU vote

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 26 - Deputy Premier, Transport Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini has announced that suspended anti-gay Army General Roberto Vannacci is set to run in June's European elections.
    Vannacci was recently suspended from duty for 11 months following a disciplinary procedure sparked by the self-publication last year of his controversial bestseller 'Il Mondo al Contrario' (The World Back To Front).
    In the book Vannacci, a 55-year-old former paratrooper commander, says that gays are not normal.
    The book also espouses the Great Replacement conspiracy theory about mainly Muslim migrants replacing ethnic Italians, suggests only white people can be real Italians, and lauds stand-your-ground self-defence laws.
    Salvini said Vannacci will be among the League's candidates in all of Italy's constituencies.
    "I am happy that a man of value like the general has decided to pursue his battles for freedom together with the League in the European Parliament," Salvini said.
    Vannacci stressed Thursday night that he was running as "an independent candidate who maintains his own identity and will fight, with courage, to affirm his values of Fatherland, tradition and family".
    Speaking Friday on spoof radio show Un Giorno da Pecora (A Day as a Sheep), Vannacci said "I decided to run in the last few days. Three days ago. And I wrote a message to Salvini on WhatsApp. He replied to me that he was very happy with my decision..
    "I thought about it a lot. I'd like to give them (the voters) a better Italy and a better Europe".
    The League's support for the controversial general is not unanimous.
    Already, over the last few days, several high-ranking figures have said they would prefer to support League insiders rather than someone who has been parachuted in from outside.
    One of these, Friuli Venezia Giula Governor Massimiliano Fedriga, reiterated Friday he would not be voting for Vannacci.
    "I'm very happy with the three candidates proposed by Friuli Venezia Goilia," he told Un Giorno da Pecora.
    "Only three preferences are possible".
    Salvini's key ally Premier Giorgia Meloni said last month that a possible candidacy by Vannacci "would not be a problem".
    In his suspension order, the defence ministry pointed to the "circumstances of the publication of the book" that had not been cleared by top military brass.
    These circumstances allegedly showed a "lack of sense of responsibility" and caused "injury to the principle of neutrality of the Armed Force", "compromising the prestige and reputation of the Administration to which it belongs and generating possible disruptive and divisive emulative effects within the military structure".
    Vannacci claims the disciplinary measure is in conflict with the right to freedom of expression guaranteed to all citizens, including military personnel, and has appealed. (ANSA).