Antisemitism and fascism exposed in Meloni's youth wing

Rome's Jewish community has urged Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to take disciplinary action against members of her party's youth wing, who were caught on camera making anti-Semitic and pro-fascist remarks. The incident was revealed in an undercover investigation of an online news platform, where members of Gioventu Nazionale, the youth movement of Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy party, were seen declaring themselves fascists and shouting slogans nazis The investigation also exposed a Gioventu Nazionale member ridiculing Brothers of Italy senator Ester Mieli because of her Jewish heritage, and revealed online chats targeting ethnic minorities.

Victor Fadlun, the president of the Jewish Community of Rome, condemned the disturbing display of racism and anti-Semitism that emerged from the investigation. Fadlun expressed his solidarity with Senator Mieli and called on the Brothers of Italy to take appropriate measures, stressing the need for a strong social and institutional response against hatred and discrimination.

In response, the Brothers of Italy acknowledged that the language used by members of the youth group was “unacceptable” and “incompatible with the values” of the party, promising to punish those involved. However, the party criticized the method of the investigation, as it was carried out undercover. It was reported that two of the members involved in the investigation have since resigned from their positions.

The Brothers of Italy party has historical links with the Italian Social Movement (MSI), a direct successor to Benito Mussolini's fascist movement that ruled Italy for more than two decades. Meloni has consistently denounced the racist and anti-Jewish laws implemented by Mussolini in 1938 and has striven to transform his party into a mainstream conservative force. However, it has been criticized for not explicitly declaring itself “anti-fascist” and for not distancing itself sufficiently from neo-fascism. Senate President Ignazio La Russa, a founding member of the Brothers of Italy, was known to display his collection of Mussolini memorabilia in 2018.