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Italy marks liberation anniversary as some glorify Mussolini

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Italy marks liberation anniversary as some glorify Mussolini
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News

Italy marks liberation anniversary as some glorify Mussolini

2019-04-25 20:33 Last Updated At:20:40

Italian leaders on Thursday marked Liberation Day, which celebrates the end of the country's Fascist dictatorship during World War II, with appeals against glorifying dictator Benito Mussolini.

The celebrations come a day after a group of hardcore fans of the Lazio soccer club performed fascist salutes and hung a banner that read "Honor to Benito Mussolini" before a match in Milan. The banner was hung near Piazzale Loreto, the Milan square where Mussolini's body was hung upside down along with that his mistress and other fascists after they were executed in 1945.

President Sergio Mattarella visited the memorial to the Unknown Soldier in Rome after making an appeal against re-writing history. He then headed to Vittorio Veneto in northern Italy, an area where Italian partisans fought Nazi-Fascist troops during the war. He hailed Italy's return to "freedom and democracy after 20 years of dictatorship, deprivation of fundamental freedoms, oppression and persecution."

Italian President Sergio Mattarella, right, and Italian Defence Minister Elisabetta Trenta review a honor guard as they visit the memorial to the Unknown Soldier in Rome, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Italian leaders are holding observances on Liberation Day, which celebrates the end of the country’s fascist dictatorship during World War II, with appeals against glorifying dictator Benito Mussolini. (Claudio PeriANSA via AP)

Italian President Sergio Mattarella, right, and Italian Defence Minister Elisabetta Trenta review a honor guard as they visit the memorial to the Unknown Soldier in Rome, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Italian leaders are holding observances on Liberation Day, which celebrates the end of the country’s fascist dictatorship during World War II, with appeals against glorifying dictator Benito Mussolini. (Claudio PeriANSA via AP)

"History teaches that when people barter their freedom in exchange for promises of order and protection, events always take a tragic and destructive turn," Mattarella said.

Premier Giuseppe Conte visited the Ardeatine Caves, the site in Rome's outskirts where 335 people were massacred in 1944 by occupying German forces.

Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio visited Rome's main synagogue and said that more work must be done to fight racism and anti-Semitism in light of events like the banner praising Mussolini.

A man wears an ANPI, Italian Partisans National Association, scarf as he takes part to a Liberation Day march in Rome, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Italian leaders are holding observances on Liberation Day, which celebrates the end of the country’s fascist dictatorship during World War II, with appeals against glorifying dictator Benito Mussolini. (AP PhotoAlessandra Tarantino)

A man wears an ANPI, Italian Partisans National Association, scarf as he takes part to a Liberation Day march in Rome, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Italian leaders are holding observances on Liberation Day, which celebrates the end of the country’s fascist dictatorship during World War II, with appeals against glorifying dictator Benito Mussolini. (AP PhotoAlessandra Tarantino)

The Italian soccer league's governing body vowed to do "everything in our power" to wipe out racism in the sport. In addition to the Mussolini banner, Lazio's Italian Cup semifinal victory at AC Milan was overshadowed by racist abuse directed at Milan players who are black.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Romania’s capital on Saturday in a show of support for Călin Georgescu, the far-right populist who emerged as the front-runner in last year’s presidential race that was annulled days before the second-round runoff.

Many of the demonstrators in central Bucharest waved Romania’s blue, yellow and red flags, while others brandished placards bearing slogans such as “President Georgescu” and “We want the second round to be resumed.” The presidential election is set to be rerun in May, but some have demanded a resumption of the canceled race.

The protest comes after the Constitutional Court made the unprecedented move to annul the election just two days before a Dec. 8 runoff. Georgescu — who was polling in single digits and declared zero campaign spending — shocked many when he won the first round on Nov. 24, after which allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference emerged.

Georgescu, a 62-year-old who has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past as “a man who loves his country" and called Ukraine “an invented state,” has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and argued the election was “canceled illegally and unconstitutionally.”

“Democracy will return ... We are the allies, we are the people, we have the power!” Georgescu, who briefly attended the rally, wrote on his X account on Saturday.

The rally on Saturday also came after U.S. Vice President JD Vance lashed out on two separate occasions at Romania in the past week for canceling the elections, which he alleged was ruled on “flimsy suspicions" and “enormous pressure” from Romania's continental neighbors.

One placard at Saturday’s protest read: “Thank you J.D. Vance … for your support.”

The canceled presidential race in December plunged the European Union and NATO member country into turmoil and followed other controversies including a recount of first-round votes.

New dates have been set to rerun the vote with the first round scheduled for May 4. If no candidate obtains more than 50% of the ballot, a runoff would be held two weeks later on May 18. It wasn't yet clear whether Georgescu will be able to participate in the new election.

Supporters of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians also attended Saturday’s protest to gather signatures backing Georgescu’s candidacy.

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, shakes hands with one of the thousands of supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, shakes hands with one of the thousands of supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, uses crutches walking between supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

Calin Georgescu, the winner of Romania's first round of presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court, uses crutches walking between supporters gathered for a protest outside the Romanian parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)

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