General Roberto Vannacci News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Italy's deputy prime minister and leader of the right-wing Lega, Matteo Salvini, has given his full backing to General Roberto Vannacci, who has been suspended from his post after making derogatory comments about homosexuals and others. With Vannacci at his side, Salvini presented his new book, "Controvento" (Headwind), in Rome on Tuesday. Vanacci will stand as a non-party candidate for the Lega in the European elections in June, but is a controversial figure even within right-wing circles. The

Roberto Vannacci asked to stand for the League party in European elections as its leader tries to boost hard-right support

An Italian army commander has been suspended for 11 months after writing a book in which he called gay people “not normal” and said black immigrants could never be truly Italian.

Five years ago, Matteo Salvini confirmed his status as a rising star of European far-right politics when his League party swept a third of the vote in Italian EU parliamentary elections. His fortunes have since waned even as Italians have ushered in their most right-wing government since World War Two, his popularity eclipsed by the ascent to power of his ally Giorgia Meloni and her nationalist Brothers of Italy party. Salvini's League, a junior partner in the rightist coalition, is polling below 9% ahead of new European parliament elections in June, while Meloni's party hovers clo...

Roberto Vannacci requested meeting a few days ago © ANSA