Patriots for Europe to discuss Vannacci Monday

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 12 - A spokesperson for the newly formed Patriots for Europe group in the EU Parliament said Friday that the group would discuss Roberto Vannacci's appointment as one of its vice presidents on Monday amid reports that Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) is against it.
    "All these decisions will be taken at the next group meeting on Monday, so I can't tell you anything," the spokesperson said when asked about the possibility Vannacci, an Italian general elected as an MEP in June's European elections as an independent on the League's list of candidates, could be replaced.
    Vannacci came to prominence after the publication last year of a book featuring controversial opinions on gays and migrants, among other things.
    Last month he was cleared by a court of defaming Italian volleyball star Paolo Egonu, who has Nigerian parents, after saying in the book that "her somatic features do not represent Italian-ness".
    He was elected as one the Patriots for Europe vice presidents during its first meeting on last Monday, at which RN President Jordan Bardella was made the head of the caucus.
    "There are no divisions," the group's spokesperson said.
    "It's a new group that formed this very week and we'll take all the decisions at the right time". (ANSA).