“Cowardly and unworthy attacks” –

Remote controversy between Tomaso Montanari and the Secolo d’Italia. The rector of the University for Foreigners of Siena on X commented on an article in which the newspaper wrote that April 25 “is reduced to the day of hatred once morest Giorgia Meloni and imaginary fascism”. These are his words: “But at least today go back to the sewers and be silent…”. Il Secolo d’Italia, in turn, responded as follows: “Prof. Tomaso Montanari reacted with disappointment to an article published today in Secolo d’Italia and also signed by one of his colleagues, Spartaco Pupo, a university professor. The anger of Montanari is more than legitimate, what is worrying is his use of a seventies-style phrasebook that recalls the slogan fascists carrion returned to the sewers, a slogan that only a few years ago would have sounded ridiculous and anachronistic in anyone’s mouth which today finds new life thanks to the Manichean culture that people like Prof. Montanari are committed to disseminating especially via social media, putting back on the dusty eskimo of the bad masters of the years of lead. If Montanari is interested in a real comparison, all he has to do is contact us and we will certainly publish a reply from him. It would be the most desirable way of clarification without inconveniencing Trinarici slogans.”

“We express our full solidarity with the Century of Italy. We are certain that these cowardly and unworthy attacks will not intimidate you”, we read on the official X page of Fratelli d’Italia. “The comment on social media by Tomaso Montanari who uses a shameful phrase like ‘Go back to the sewers’ to attack the Century of Italy raises doubts regarding his suitability to hold the role of rector. The episode highlights extreme intolerance and the inability to manage discussion in a democratic and respectful context. It is essential to promote a constructive and open dialogue, since differences of opinion enrich public debate and contribute to cultural and social growth academic and intellectual based on mutual respect and freedom of expression”, declared Fratelli d’Italia deputy Luca Sbardella, member of the bicameral Rai Supervision commission. “Not even on a day like this Montanari can’t stop being as intolerant as ever. Threatening the »Century of Italy« which has the sole fault of having written an article concerning him and many others who have made an impact of anti-fascism profession, puts us face to face with this question: is he really the right person to run a state university? In the democratic and pluralist Italy that I like, I struggle to believe this” was the comment of Raffaele Speranzon, senator of Fratelli d. ‘Italy and deputy vice-president of the group at Palazzo Madama.