Rebel ‘orange jacket’ group challenge existence of Covid-19
IN A bright orange blazer and equally lurid orange tie, he looks like an ageing Butlin’s host, but Antonio Pappalardo is the leader of a fiery political movement in Italy that has emerged from the coronavirus emergency.
The “orange jackets”, who model themselves on the “yellow vests” or gilets jaunes of France, were established early last year but languished in obscurity until this week, when they held a series of protests in cities across Italy.
Their arguments coalesce around a mishmash of anti-establishment conspiracy theories regarding the supposed perils of 5G, opposition to vaccinations and profound scepticism over the danger posed by coronavirus.
They are drawing strength from the despair and anger of many Italians, who have lost their jobs or seen their businesses fail during Italy’s tough three-month lockdown.
Mr Pappalardo, 73, an ex-general with the Carabinieri police who briefly served as an independent MP in the Nineties, insists that Covid-19 is an invention. Notwithstanding that the virus has killed more than 33,000 people in Italy, bringing heartbreak to so many families, he maintains it is a vast conspiracy dreamt up by world powers to terrorise the masses.
“Covid does not exist. It’s an invention, a huge bluff. They want to terrorise us, to shut us up at home and install a new world order,” he said this week. The big threat to the world is not the virus but “deadly electromagnetic radiation – too many radars, too many antennae,” he said.
His claims are forcefully rebutted by scientists, who say he is peddling a dangerous falsehood which could persuade Italians to let down their guard and trigger a new wave of infections.
Supporters refused to wear face masks as they took part in this week’s demonstrations and many were fined by the police for contravening public health regulations. Professor Andrea
Crisanti, a leading virologist who helped quash the virus in the northern region of Veneto with an aggressive programme of testing and tracing, said the movement was irresponsible.
“They will give the virus a second chance. They are showing disregard for all the efforts made so far,” he said.
The orange jackets – who call themselves gilet arancioni, a strange hybrid of French and Italian – are also deeply Eurosceptic and want to see Italy ditch the euro in favour of a new lira.