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From The Times
May 1, 2008

Mussolini follower Gianfranco Fini takes top job

Richard Owen

ROME Gianfranco Fini, the right-wing Italian politician who once described Benito Mussolini as “the greatest statesman of the 20th century” was elected Speaker of the lower house of parliament, one of the highest offices of state, yesterday.

The move is the final transition of Mr Fini and his party, Alleanza Nazionale, to mainstream respectability. Mr Fini transformed the neo-Fascist Italian Social Movement, a descendant of Mussolini’s Blackshirts, into Alleanza Nazionale 14 years ago, adopting traditional conservatism based on family values.

Mr Fini, a former Foreign Minister, joined forces with the Forza Italia party of Silvio Berlusconi to form the People of Liberty alliance, which swept the board in national elections just over two weeks ago. In a gesture to the defeated centre Left he called for national reconciliation.

Gianni Alemanno, a member of Alleanza Nazionale, was elected Mayor of Rome this week as Italy continued its shift to the right.

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To Sarah: It was London to be attacked by British Islamic boys on 7/7, not Rome. Great Britain is doom, but Britons didn't vote the Labour and may be Great Britain has a chance to change. Mussolini lost the war, but Churchill lost the British Empire.

pierino, livorno, italy

Italy is doomed?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! England is doom with a rising muslim population and the breakdown in the traditional value that made England the great country it was. In 50 years time England will have sharia law...................forget about Italy and start to worry about your own country...

John, Pleasanton, USA

Owen sees the ghost of Mussolini also in Gianfranco Fini, born in 1952. The MSI ( Social Italian Movement) was not a neoFascist party: it was a party who accepted democracy and Fini was elected in parliament in 1983. The MSI became National Alliance in 1994, after refusing any totalitarianism.

letizia, bolzano, italy

For good luck Italy continued its shift to the right as you say so we can forget all the disasters made by our last
Prodi's center left, more left than center, governement. Hopefully with today's elction of London's Mayor the same shift will begin also in UK.

Roberto Castellano, Salsomaggiore, Italy

This is just so sad. Italy is doomed.

Sarah, London, uk

Following my comments of 2 weeks ago. It is good to see that Italy is now back in the modern world of politics and not stagnating in a Communist decline. Communism is no longer the fashion in Itaky! Bravi.

Noel, Nr Rome,

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