European Parliament chief apologises for telling interviewer ‘Mussolini got things done’
THE president of the European Parliament was forced to apologise yesterday for defending Benito Mussolini and claiming that the Fascist dictator should be credited with a number of positive achievements.
Antonio Tajani, a centre-right politician, said Il Duce had done some “positive things” such as building roads and bridges before imprisoning opponents, implementing draconian discrimina- tion laws against Jews, allying with Hitler and plunging his country into war.
“You don’t have to agree with his methods... but let’s be honest, Mussolini built roads, bridges, buildings, sports installations, he remade many parts of our Italy,” Mr Tajani said dur- ing a radio interview.
“Generally speaking I don’t think his government action was positive. But things were done,” he added. With some MEPS in Brussels and politicians in Italy calling for his resignation, Mr Tajani released a statement of apology. He said: “As a convinced anti-fascist, I apologise to all those who may have been offended by what I said.
“My remarks were in no way intended to justify or minimise an antidemocratic and totalitarian regime.”
Ska Keller, a German MEP who leads the Greens-european Free Alliance grouping in the European Parliament, said: “The statements by the president of the European parliament are unworthy and absolutely unacceptable.” More than 70 years after his death at the hands of partisans, there is still a small but vocal minority who defend Mussolini. They insist that although he plunged Italy into war and persecuted the Jewish population, he accomplished many positive things, from draining marshes and eliminating malaria to building model new towns.
Mr Tajani is a close ally of Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister, raising speculation that the remarks were meant to appeal to Right-wing voters ahead of the European Parliament elections in May.
Mr Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party has been eclipsed by the hard-right League, led by Matteo Salvini, the deputy prime minister who has himself alluded to his admiration for Mussolini.
In a tweet, Mr Tajani added: “The fascist dictatorship, racial laws and the deaths it caused are the darkest page in Italian and European history”.