Anti-gay general Roberto Vannacci said
Sunday he would carry out his new job as army ground operations
chief of staff "with passion".
Former crack paratroop regiment commander Vannacci, 55, was
sacked in August as head of the army geographical institute
after self-publishing a book slating gays and other minorities,
leading Defence Minister Guido Crosetto to open disciplinary
proceedings against him which are ongoing.
Former right-wing Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno said Crosetto had
been "definitively given the lie" by Vaannacci's new
appointment, which defence ministry sources said however was not
a promotion.
Alemanno, leader of the recently founded small right-wing
Independence Movement party, said "all out most sincere
congratulations go to Vannacci, and all our concern to Crosetto,
that such a man should be entrusted with the defence of our
nation".
Vannacci's bestselling book has made him a hero in anti-woke and
anti-politically correct circles.
Vannacci said Sunday "the new post, which I was sure would come,
has been given me by the armed force top brass...and it is a
very prestigious role that I assume and will carry forward with
the passion I have always shown, fitting for my experience,
since I have never had any doubt that I did not contravene
military codes".
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