As his party continues to dominate Italian national polls, League leader Matteo Salvini rejected allegations of fascist allusions, saying that fascism is dead — and that to be called a populist “is a compliment”.
The former Italian Interior Minister was asked in an interview with French magazine Le Point about his upcoming rally on the 19th of October in Rome, with some comparing it to former fascist leader Benito Mussolini’s 1922 march on Rome, which occurred in the same month.
“We will fill a square in Rome, San Giovanni, where the left is often found. It is also known as a concert venue,” Salvini said.
“Fascism, like communism, is a dead idea. These are phenomena to be studied, but neither of them will return,” he added.
When asked how he defines himself politically, Salvini stated: “I believe that the left, right, fascist, and communist labels are outdated. I call myself Italian, neither right nor left.”
Italians Prefer Salvini Coalition To New Leftist Govt https://t.co/bOCdvGvKTX
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) September 12, 2019
“I do not criticise the PD (Democratic Party) because it is of the left, but because it depends on the will of Brussels, while for the League, the Italian interest is the priority,” Salvini said.
“For me, ‘populist’ is a compliment, it means being close to the people,” he added.
full story at https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/10/20/salvini-being-called-populist-is-compliment/