Brian McDonald
A struggle in the Italian Parliament for far right governmentPlans to grant more autonomy to regions have provoked an uproar, with some comparing the impact to the days of fascism.
The fight began on Wednesday night when Five Star Movement deputy Leonardo Donno unfurled an Italian flag in front of regional affairs minister Roberto Calderoli of the pro-autonomy Northern League and approached him.
Donno’s feat was intended to denounce plans to grant more autonomy from Rome to regions that wanted it. Critics argue that this undermines Italy’s unity.
Giuseppe Conte via Facebook via Reuters
In response, Calderoli’s fellow League deputies left their benches en masse to attack Donno, and the incident turned into a free-for-all involving around 20 men.
Donno, injured in the fights, had to be evacuated in a wheelchair before being taken to the hospital.
The fight provoked a torrent of reactions from political leaders and reached the front pages of Italian newspapers. Many criticized the example set by elected representatives.
“The squadron right is fighting in parliament,” lamented the newspaper La Repubblica, using a term to designate the post-World War I paramilitary forces that became the infamous Blackshirts of fascist leader Benito Mussolini.
Italy’s leading daily Corriere della Sera said the house had been turned into a “boxing ring”.
Giuseppe Conte via Facebook via Reuters
Lawmakers from the League and Brothers of Italy, the party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accused Donno of provoking the incident and even of faking his injuries.
The Five Star Movement denounced a “serious and shameful attack” and called for immediate measures.
“The violence comes from the Meloni majority bench… Shame,” said its leader. Giuseppe Contewrote on social media.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani acknowledged that lawmakers should be held to higher standards, telling Sky TG24 that politicians “have to set a completely different example”.
“The Chamber is not a boxing ring… punches do not solve political problems.”
Critics say the autonomy proposal will result in the cutting of public services in the poorest regions.
The scenes in Parliament are by no means unprecedented.
In 2021, deputies from the Brothers of Italy — who have post-fascist roots — surrounded the center of the Chamber to interrupt a debate on the COVID-19 health pass.
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