Italy blocks plans of populist think tank

COLLEPARDO, Italy — Italy’s populist government is blocking plans by former White House adviser Steve Bannon to set up an academy for future populist leaders in a medieval monastery in the mountains outside Rome.

On Friday, Italy’s government said it was revoking the rights to the property, which were given to the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, a think tank affiliated with Bannon.

Among other problems, Italy’s culture ministry said the institute has not paid concession fees and failed to do maintenance work on the monastery. The monastery is perched on a mountain near the town of Collepardo in Frosinone province southeast of Rome.

“It’s not about political opinions but respect for the law,” Gianluca Vacca, an undersecretary at the ministry, said about kicking the institute out of the monastery. “Thus proceeding with the revocation was a duty.”

Benjamin Harnwell, the institute’s founder, rejected the ministry’s claims and said his think tank will fight to stay in the monastery. He vowed his institute will contest the “illegitimate maneuver with every resource at its disposal no matter how many years it takes.”

Plans to create the school for future populist leaders have been met by protests and local opposition, even as Italy is governed by populists. The anti-migrant Northern League party has formed a coalition government with the 5-Star Movement, which champions environmental issues but also opposes migration and mandatory vaccines.