{"id":23879,"date":"2013-01-27T23:33:00","date_gmt":"2013-01-27T22:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rt.com\/news\/berlusconi-mussolini-holocaust-outrage-854\/"},"modified":"2013-01-27T23:33:00","modified_gmt":"2013-01-27T22:33:00","slug":"berlusconi-defends-mussolini-on-holocaust-remembrance-day-sparks-outrage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/berlusconi-defends-mussolini-on-holocaust-remembrance-day-sparks-outrage\/","title":{"rendered":"Berlusconi defends Mussolini on Holocaust Remembrance Day, sparks outrage"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Former<\/p>\n

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.(Reuters \/ Max Rossi)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi defended Italian fascist leader, Benito Mussolini as he spoke at a Holocaust remembrance ceremony. Other than passing \u2018racial laws\u2019 the Italian dictator \u201cdid good\u201d in many ways, he said, provoking outrage.<\/p>\n

Berlusconi, currently the leader of the center-right People of Freedom party, didn\u2019t think twice as he defended one of the key figures of fascism on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.<\/p>\n

He went as far as to advocate Mussolini\u2019s alliance with Hitler, implying the dictator had little choice.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly the government then, fearing that German power would turn into a general victory, preferred to be allied with Hitler\u2019s Germany rather than oppose it<\/em>,\u201d Berlusconi said, adding that it\u2019s difficult to judge such actions without putting yourself \u201cin the shoes of who was making decisions back then.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It is through this alliance that the anti-Jewish laws had to be imposed, Berlusconi added, placing the blame on Germany\u2019s Nazi regime. \u201cThus, the racial laws are the worst fault of Mussolini, who, in so many other aspects, did good,<\/em>\u201d Berlusconi said.<\/p>\n

Under the 1938 laws imposing oppressive restrictions on Jews, Mussolini\u2019s government started persecuting Italy\u2019s Jewish population and deported up to 10,000 people, most of whom died in concentration camps.<\/p>\n

Italy, however, \u201cdoes not have the same responsibilities as Germany,\u201d<\/em> the politician and media tycoon Berlusconi claimed.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t elaborate on what aspects of Mussolini\u2019s rule, characterized by aggressive nationalism, a harsh police state and neo-imperialistic overseas wars, he actually preferred.<\/p>\n

\u2018A disgrace to Italy\u2019<\/h3>\n

Berlusconi\u2019s comments have sparked outrage among Italian public figures.<\/p>\n

While the former prime minister is known for outspoken statements, including comments in favor of Mussolini he\u2019s made before, some Italian politicians said he\u2019s gone too far.<\/p>\n

As it is outlawed in Italy to encourage Fascism in any form, a candidate for local elections Gianfranco Mascia pledged to see Berlusconi prosecuted for his words by filing a formal complaint.<\/p>\n

Berlusconi\u2019s political rivals from the center-left Democratic Party (PD) condemned his statements as \u201cdisgusting.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOnly Berlusconi’s political cynicism, combined with the worst historic revisionism, could separate the shame of the racist laws from the Fascist dictatorship<\/em>,\u201d a center-left leader Rosy Bindi was quoted as saying by AP.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur republic is based on the struggle against Nazi fascism and these are intolerable remarks which are incompatible with leadership of democratic political forces<\/em>,\u201d PD\u2019s spokesman, Marco Meloni said.<\/p>\n

Another left-wing coalition member Antonio Ingroia called Berlusconi \u201ca disgrace to Italy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Monuments to \u201cIl Duce\u201d Mussolini still stand in many Italian cities, including Rome, and some factions of Italian parliament trace their history back to the Italian Social Movement (MSI), which grew out of the fascist party.<\/p>\n

But Berlusconi is one of the very few openly sympathizing with the Italian dictator.<\/p>\n

In recent national polls, ahead of February\u2019s election, Berlusconi\u2019s coalition came second.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n

\"Former<\/p>\n

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.(Reuters \/ Max Rossi)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi defended Italian fascist leader, Benito Mussolini as he spoke at a Holocaust remembrance ceremony. Other than passing ‘racial laws’ the Italian dictator “did good” in many ways, he said, provoking outrage.<\/p>\n

Berlusconi, currently the leader of the center-right People of Freedom party, didn’t think twice as he defended one of the key figures of fascism on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.<\/p>\n

He went as far as to advocate Mussolini’s alliance with Hitler, implying the dictator had little choice.<\/p>\n

“Certainly the government then, fearing that German power would turn into a general victory, preferred to be allied with Hitler’s Germany rather than oppose it<\/em>,” Berlusconi said, adding that it’s difficult to judge such actions without putting yourself “in the shoes of who was making decisions back then.”<\/em><\/p>\n

It is through this alliance that the anti-Jewish laws had to be imposed, Berlusconi added, placing the blame on Germany’s Nazi regime. “Thus, the racial laws are the worst fault of Mussolini, who, in so many other aspects, did good,<\/em>” Berlusconi said.<\/p>\n

Under the 1938 laws imposing oppressive restrictions on Jews, Mussolini’s government started persecuting Italy’s Jewish population and deported up to 10,000 people, most of whom died in concentration camps.<\/p>\n

Italy, however, “does not have the same responsibilities as Germany,”<\/em> the politician and media tycoon Berlusconi claimed.<\/p>\n

He didn’t elaborate on what aspects of Mussolini’s rule, characterized by aggressive nationalism, a harsh police state and neo-imperialistic overseas wars, he actually preferred.<\/p>\n

‘A disgrace to Italy’<\/h3>\n

Berlusconi’s comments have sparked outrage among Italian public figures.<\/p>\n

While the former prime minister is known for outspoken statements, including comments in favor of Mussolini he’s made before, some Italian politicians said he’s gone too far.<\/p>\n

As it is outlawed in Italy to encourage Fascism in any form, a candidate for local elections Gianfranco Mascia pledged to see Berlusconi prosecuted for his words by filing a formal complaint.<\/p>\n

Berlusconi’s political rivals from the center-left Democratic Party (PD) condemned his statements as “disgusting.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Only Berlusconi’s political cynicism, combined with the worst historic revisionism, could separate the shame of the racist laws from the Fascist dictatorship<\/em>,” a center-left leader Rosy Bindi was quoted as saying by AP.<\/p>\n

“Our republic is based on the struggle against Nazi fascism and these are intolerable remarks which are incompatible with leadership of democratic political forces<\/em>,” PD’s spokesman, Marco Meloni said.<\/p>\n

Another left-wing coalition member Antonio Ingroia called Berlusconi “a disgrace to Italy.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Monuments to “Il Duce” Mussolini still stand in many Italian cities, including Rome, and some factions of Italian parliament trace their history back to the Italian Social Movement (MSI), which grew out of the fascist party.<\/p>\n

But Berlusconi is one of the very few openly sympathizing with the Italian dictator.<\/p>\n

In recent national polls, ahead of February’s election, Berlusconi’s coalition came second.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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