EU concern over 'normalised fascism', condemns CasaPound

ROME – MEPs have denounced a "lack of effective action" against groups, such as CasaPound, who have allowed the current "xenophobic wave across Europe" in a non-legislative vote, Il Messagero reports.

 The European Parliament has voiced its concern about the "increasing normalisation of fascism, racism and xenophobia," before calling on EU member states to ban neo-fascist and neo-Nazi groups, including CasaPound in Italy. The recent attack on European deputy Eleonora Forenza and her assistant in Bari in September by the Italian neo-fascist party was condemned in the statement from Strasbourg.

 CasaPound have also come under serious fire from prosecutors in Rome this week, who have opened investigations into illegal occupation and resistance towards a public official against up to 20 members of the neo-fascist party, according to sources.

 The latest development in the standoff between Rome’s authorities and members of the neo-fascist movement stems from the showdown on Tuesday, when police were refused entry to inspect the occupied building on Via Napoleon III.

 An agreement had been reached between the authorities and leaders of the movement to allow police to inspect the communal areas of the building, in order to identify whether any damage was caused. However, tensions flared on the arrival of the police and CasaPound members expressed their unwillingness to allow the officers in the building.

 Rome’s police then called off their search and were met with criticism from some sides, who quickly pointed out the hypocrisy of standing down from entering CasaPound, but not hesitating to remove illegal immigrants from squats throughout the city.

 However, Rome’s legal representatives have now taken action against the neo-fascist members. Corriere della Sera reports that deputy prosecutors Michele Nardi and Francesco Caporale have ordered the acquisition of articles concerning the first occupation of the building in 2003, in order to contribute to the investigation.

 

pm