The pro-Palestine procession not far from the Verona synagogue. The booing of Justice Minister Carlo Nordio in Treviso, coming from a square enraged at having been accused of making “rhetoric” about anti-fascism, a few minutes after the mayor Mario Conte, however, had said “Treviso was, is and will always be anti-fascist”. The social controversy that overwhelms the President of the Region Luca Zaia, who for once omitted the liberation from Nazi-fascism in the post on April 25th. Few examples, different situations, real and virtual, but which still testify, like every year, to the continuous tensions and divisions. And that word, “anti-fascist”, the crux of the censorship of Antonio Scurati’s text by Rai managers, which pronouncing and not pronouncing, today, has become a stance and an element of political conflict. And while regional councilors and Northern League parliamentarians are divided between the very Venetian “Good San Marco” (for example Bitonci, Coin, Marcato, Villanova) and “today we celebrate the Liberation from Nazi-fascism” (Pretto), April 25th remains a battle ground. In Treviso it wasn’t enough for Nordio, the Melonian minister, mention in his speech the «disaster of the war is obviously attributable to Nazi-fascism».
Nordio contested
There are many among the public (and the many red handkerchiefs) who are furious when, however, immediately afterwards, he adds «we are asked if we are fascists, but it is a rhetorical question, we swore allegiance to the anti-fascist constitution, it is obvious that we are anti-fascists.” The chants of “no”, “boo” and the whistles that had already accompanied her even before she said a word began again, as she moved towards the microphone, with the police asking for “more respect” from the exponents of the Anpi. When he was not yet a minister, Nordio was an illustrious citizen in Treviso, highly esteemed, but the proximity to the Brothers of Italy weighs on the mood of the square which recalls the Resistance. Nordio did not stop, he continued speaking and finished his speech. «Booing and dissent are part of democracy, they were also contained, I was surprised that they booed when I mentioned the pact between Ribbentrop and Molotov, between Hitler and Stalin – he replies seraphically -, the Stalinist Soviet and Nazi dictatorships they unleashed in ‘ 39 the war, perhaps those who blew the whistle don’t know the story, and perhaps they are still Stalinists… and it surprises me, I thought there were no more Stalinists but there is no longer any limit to the worst.” The applause (during and after the speech) came instead for Mayor Conte: very opening sentences, a memory of Giacomo Matteotti “example of courage and resistance”, words not to be taken for granted from a member of the Northern League: “Today we celebrate the liberation from fascist dictatorship”.
Processions and protests
The centre-right, at least in its main exponents, was missing in the streets of Vicenza and Padua on 25 April, administered by the centre-left of Giacomo Possamai and Sergio Giordani. Center-right that was in the square in Verona, with the mayor Damiano Tommasi. The speaker of the day was Benedetta Tobagi who spoke about women in the Resistance, wondering if Meloni was aware of the torture suffered by couriers and partisans at the hands of the fascists. The undersecretary for culture Gianmarco Mazzi (FdI) defined the intervention as “deeply and deliberately divisive, against the Prime Minister”. The controversy broke out elsewhere, with an altercation in front of the synagogue. In the procession, next to the banners of the Municipality, the Province of Verona and the associations, there was also the banner of the Jewish Brigade, but just outside the area reserved for the celebrations a banner was displayed: «Yesterday in Italy, today in Palestrina: Resistance until Liberation», while someone hoisted a sign with the words “Israeli weapons, Palestinian blood” accompanied by Palestinian flags. The rabbi, considering it a lack of respect, tried to have the writings removed: “This is a continuation of fascism.” Processions from pro-Palestine social centers also took place yesterday in Vicenza, Padua and Treviso.
Zaia’s post
However, Luca Zaia’s Facebook page opened the day of controversy: «On 25 April 79 years ago, the Second World War ended for our country. The certainty of having learned the value of freedom from history gave our parents the will to rebuild by rejecting war.” This is followed by a passage on San Marco, the values shared by the two days of peace, democracy, solidarity. But the most cited word these days is missing. He immediately attacks PD regional councilor Vanessa Camani: «An exercise in pathetic omission. Following the worst nostalgics of the right, President Zaia unleashes a post that talks about the date that marks the end of the war and in which San Marco is celebrated, taking care not to remember that this is the date of liberation from Nazi-fascist oppression. History deserves to be remembered.” The reply comes directly from the president’s spokesperson, Walter Milan: «It would have been enough for councilor Camani to read the press release of 24 April, where the president wanted to mention the War of Liberation, the sacrifice of those who lost their lives to fight the dictatorship, the partisan Tina Anselmi and much more. With a quick search on the web or on social media, he would have had evidence of Zaia’s many statements on anti-fascism. He would have saved time. The political controversy could wait.”
