The case of Italian writer Antonio
Scurati, who was stopped from delivering a monologue at the
weekend on State broadcaster Rai for Liberation Day, has sparked
political tension before Thursday's national holiday celebrating
Italy's liberation from Fascism and the Nazi occupation in World
War II.
In the text of the monologue, Scurati described the "ruling
party" of Premier Giorgia Meloni, the right-wing Brothers of
Italy (FdI), as "post-Fascist" and said it was trying to
re-write history rather than "repudiate its neo-fascist past".
Meloni criticized Scurati in a Facebook post, saying she would
never ask for censorship as she had been "ostracized and
censored" by the public service broadcaster in the past, and
referring to Rai saying that it had simply refused to pay 1,800
euros for a one-minute monologue.
She also published the text of the monologue "so Italian people
can freely judge its content".
On Sunday Scurati said he had been subjected to a form of
"violence" by the premier and felt afraid.
"When the boss points the finger at the enemy and the newspapers
put you on the front pages, they put a target on your face," he
said.
"Then there might be someone who takes aim at that target".
Opposition parties criticised the decision to stop Scurati
giving the monologue, saying it was part of an effort to limit
opposition voices and turn the State broadcaster into a
"megaphone" for the government.
Rai Director General Giampaolo Rossi on Monday said the
narrative that Rai censures people is "groundless", saying
reports about what had happened were "surreal".
He also announced in internal probe to see whether mistakes had
been made after a press release had announced that Scurati was
going to take part in one of its programmes.
During the monologue Scurati mentions Giacomo Matteotti, a
Socialist MP murdered by Fascist thugs in 1924.
On Monday Matteotti's granddaughter said she wanted to hear a
clear message from the government on anti-fascism for this
year's Liberation Day celebrations.
"This 25 April is different for me because it is the centenary
year of the murder of my grandfather Giacomo Matteotti," said
Elena Matteotti.
"I want to make an appeal: I ask the government to give a clear
message against any resurgence of oppression and in favour of
tolerance and freedom of expression.
"But this message must not only come from Prime Minister Meloni,
it must be accepted by all parties.
"The fascism that killed my grandfather is now gone but we must
always be vigilant".
Italian Partisans Association ANPI, meanwhile, slammed Deputy
Premier, Transport Minister and rightwing League party leader
Matteo Salvini for choosing to present his new book on
Liberation Day, saying "a significant part of this government
does not recognise April 25".
ANPI Milan Chair Primo Minelli said Salvini's decision to
present the book in Milan on Thursday "means not recognising
this holiday, nothing else".
Minelli also said Meloni appeared to have trouble describing
herself as an antifascist while her brother in law, Farm
Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, had stressed "the violence of
antifascism".
Talking about Meloni's apparent reluctance to define herself as
anti-fascist, as she has repeatedly been urged by the
opposition, Minelli also noted that her FdI party has also
refused to remove the neo-fascist flame symbol from its logo,
representing the flame that burns on Mussolini's tomb.
"I can't torture her (to get her to say she's an antifascist).
"And someone should explain to Italians the meaning of that
flame that is there inside the symbol of a party, out of
intellectual honesty, which recalls the one on Mussolini's
tomb".
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