It causes a stir in Italy book by an active general with racist and homophobic content.

The Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, close ally of the prime minister Georgia Meloni, condemned today Thursday the “delusions” of the acting Italian general, who writes in his book, among other things, that homosexuals “are not normal”.

“The general (Roberto) Vanaci he expresses opinions that discredit the army (…) and the Constitution”, Croceto underlines in his announcement.

The Ministry of Defense “will initiate the prescribed disciplinary procedure”, the minister said, noting that he had not been “informed about the content of the book, which was not submitted for approval by the military hierarchy”.

In his self-published book, The World Up Down, released on August 10, Roberto Vanacci, 54, a former head of the elite Parachute Corps and now head of the Military Geographical Institute, presents himself as a “descendant of Julius Caesar”.

During his career, which was mostly spent in the field, General Wanachi was stationed in Somalia, Rwanda, Afghanistan and Libya.

“Dear gays, you are not normal, digest it’ is one of the excerpts from his book published in Italian media. Among other things, the Italian general deplores “controversial rules of integration and tolerance imposed by minorities”.

He attacks the black volleyball player Paola Enogou, who competes in the colors of the Italian national team, saying: “Paola Enogou is of Italian nationality, but it is obvious that her features do not represent Italianness.”
These positions caused a wave of angry reactions from the left, while the right-wing and far-right MPs remained silent.

“The racist and homophobic words and positions of General Vanatsi they are blatantly against the constitutional values and the democratic principles of the Republic,” commented Piero Fascino, deputy of the Democratic Party and vice-president of the Defense Committee, according to the AGI news agency.

The rise to power in 2022 of Giorgia Meloni, leader of Italy’s post-fascist Adelphia party, has raised fears among Europeans about respect for human rights, with France expressing particular concerns.