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| One of Beppe Grillo's MPs castigated for praise of fascism | One of Beppe Grillo's MPs castigated for praise of fascism |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| One of the most senior newly elected politicians in former comedian Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement came under fire on Tuesday, for a blog in which she appeared to praise aspects of fascism, including its family values and respect for the state. | One of the most senior newly elected politicians in former comedian Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement came under fire on Tuesday, for a blog in which she appeared to praise aspects of fascism, including its family values and respect for the state. |
| Just a week after the upstart M5S's spectacular breakthrough in Italy's inconclusive election, Roberta Lombardi, 39, was widely criticised for the blog. In a front-page article, one commentator in La Stampa even called on her to resign. | Just a week after the upstart M5S's spectacular breakthrough in Italy's inconclusive election, Roberta Lombardi, 39, was widely criticised for the blog. In a front-page article, one commentator in La Stampa even called on her to resign. |
| The post, published on 21 January, said that "before it degenerated, the ideology of fascism had a socialist-inspired sense of national community and a very high regard for the state and the protection of the family". | The post, published on 21 January, said that "before it degenerated, the ideology of fascism had a socialist-inspired sense of national community and a very high regard for the state and the protection of the family". |
| Days later, three-times prime minister Silvio Berlusconi caused outrage by choosing Holocaust memorial day to present his own revisionist take on why fascist dictator Benito Mussolini had, apart from introducing antisemitic race laws, "done well" in other ways. | Days later, three-times prime minister Silvio Berlusconi caused outrage by choosing Holocaust memorial day to present his own revisionist take on why fascist dictator Benito Mussolini had, apart from introducing antisemitic race laws, "done well" in other ways. |
| Lombardi, an employee of an interior decoration firm who has been made the M5S's leader in Italy's lower house of parliament, said on Tuesday in a separate blogpost that she had been left "speechless" by what she described as the "exploitation" of her comments. | Lombardi, an employee of an interior decoration firm who has been made the M5S's leader in Italy's lower house of parliament, said on Tuesday in a separate blogpost that she had been left "speechless" by what she described as the "exploitation" of her comments. |
| "What was expressed was an exclusively historical analysis of this political period, which, of course, I condemn," she wrote. | "What was expressed was an exclusively historical analysis of this political period, which, of course, I condemn," she wrote. |
| Lombardi was not the only M5S politician to be riled by the press. Her colleague and party leader in the upper house of parliament, Vito Crimi, said he had been misinterpreted in reports that suggested Grillo's movement could potentially support the formation of a technocrat government. | Lombardi was not the only M5S politician to be riled by the press. Her colleague and party leader in the upper house of parliament, Vito Crimi, said he had been misinterpreted in reports that suggested Grillo's movement could potentially support the formation of a technocrat government. |
| Italy's 87-year-old president, Giorgio Napolitano, who has the unenviable task of appointing a new government from the wreckage of last week's election, is reported to be keen to pursue such an option if efforts by centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani fail. | Italy's 87-year-old president, Giorgio Napolitano, who has the unenviable task of appointing a new government from the wreckage of last week's election, is reported to be keen to pursue such an option if efforts by centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani fail. |
| However, on Tuesday, Grillo, whose movement holds the balance of power in the Senate, said he would not support a technocrat government, saying it would be merely a "fig leaf" and, despite its name, inherently political. | However, on Tuesday, Grillo, whose movement holds the balance of power in the Senate, said he would not support a technocrat government, saying it would be merely a "fig leaf" and, despite its name, inherently political. |
| The ex-comedian and blogger, who has taken to appearing in public with his hood pulled over his face and aviator sunglasses on top, is also refusing to support a centre-left government. | The ex-comedian and blogger, who has taken to appearing in public with his hood pulled over his face and aviator sunglasses on top, is also refusing to support a centre-left government. |
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