Giorgio Meloni's right-wing Brothers
of Italy (FdI) party on Monday suspended one of its candidates
for the September 25 general election over reports he has
expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler.
Calogero Pisano, who had been FdI's coordinator in the Sicilian
province of Agrigento, has been suspended from all roles within
the party.
In the past he reportedly described Hitler as a "great
statesman" and said he was a supporter of Russia President
Vladimir Putin.
On Monday Ruth Dureghello, the president of Rome's Jewish
Community, spoke out about the case, saying "the idea that
someone who hails Hitler could sit in the next parliament is
unacceptable".
Meloni is tipped to become Italy's first woman premier after
Sunday's election.
The centre-right coalition had a big lead in the opinion polls,
with FdI the top party, before a pre-vote media blackout of
surveys kicked in.
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