Edward Marchesi In the Milan City Council chamber , during a meeting titled " Young People with a Healthy and Robust Constitution ," Senate President Ignazio La Russa made some controversial remarks. Before an audience largely composed of young people, the second-in-command addressed the issue of the relationship between the people and political choices, in a tone that sparked debate.
The People and Fascism According to La Russa
According to his own words, the popular will may be imperfect, but it remains the highest value of democracy . La Russa affirmed that it was the people who wanted fascism , not a revolution per se, and recalled the March on Rome as a fact later confirmed by popular consensus.
He added that, even if they have made mistakes, the people cannot be corrected without trusting in their will. He also criticized those who judge collective choices, arguing that accepting the judgment of history is the only coherent path.
His words refer to Zagrebelsky, who was quoted as saying that the people were wrong.
For La Russa, questioning the people's ability to decide is a grave mistake, because it would mean considering only popular decisions to be right.
Reactions from Avs and Angelo Bonelli
Avs 's response was immediate, calling it the "absolution of a dictatorship." Angelo Bonelli argued that fascism did not come to power with the free consent of Italians, but through squadrismo (military squads ), violence against party headquarters, unions, and cooperatives, the March on Rome, and a post granted by the king under duress. According to Bonelli, claiming in front of high school students that fascism was desired by the people distorts history, and the fact that the speaker is the second highest official in the state makes the matter even more serious.
Constitution and the Laterza case
During the same meeting, La Russa also spoke about the Constitution . He explained that the compromise aspect had been of great value when it was written, because it allowed for the creation of a sense of unity, whereas today that compromise appears forced between very different forces. He also brought up the Laterza case , linked to the textbook that Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara had requested be withdrawn, only to receive a firm refusal from the publisher. The Senate President argued that proposing a single version of history while concealing another thesis is a mistake.
Finally, La Russa ruled out running for president, saying he preferred a more active, non-partisan policy.