Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Fascists dissolve in tears tear

Paul Holmes
Saturday 28 January 1995 00:02 GMT
Comments

Fiuggi -The neo-Fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI), founded 49 years ago by followers of Benito Mussolini, voted itself out of existence yesterday in a victory for the party leader, Gianfranco Fini.

Delegates at a congress declared the MSI's work complete and said it should give way to the National Alliance, the right-wing movement Mr Fini founded one year ago.

The National Alliance charter severs links with Fascist ideology and backs democracy and the free market. The near unanimous vote was a triumph for Mr Fini's battle to establish his democratic credentials. n "We have shown ourselves to be up to the task that history has set us," a satisfied Mr Fini, 43, told the 1,600 delegates.

A dose of nostalgia remained however, with many delegates in tears as the congress ended with a large number of them singing the old Fascist anthem, "Hymn to Rome".

The National Alliance won 13.5 per cent of votes in general elections held last March. A recent poll put its support at 17.5 per cent.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in