Mussolini granddaughter says Brothers of Italy party too right-wing

A granddaughter of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini has announced that she will be leaving prime minster Georgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, saying it is too right-wing. Rachele Mussolini is a city councillor in Rome and said she will be switching to the group of Forza Italia, part of the country’s ruling coalition. This is because that party is seen as more liberal in terms of civil rights.

“It is time to turn the page and join a party that I feel is closer to my moderate and centrist sensibilities,” the 50-year-old told the Ansa news agency.

Mussolini has won the most votes of any candidate at Rome’s last council elections in 2021. She took issue with the Brothers of Italy party’s stance on minority rights, having been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, according to The Guardian. She also said that she “never liked” the fascist salute which some members and supporters still perform during commemorative events.

Last month, she had a problem with Meloni in a dispute over Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif who fought against Italian boxer Angela Carini. When the Italian gave up during her bout against Khelif, Meloni said that it was not a match of equals, saying that the Algerian had failed a gender eligibility test at the World Championships last year.  

“Until proven otherwise Imane Khelif is a woman. And she has suffered an unworthy witch-hunt,” Mussolini said.

She was named after her grandmother, Rachele Guidi, the second wife of Benito Mussolini. The pair had five children together including Rachele Mussolini’s father Romano, a jazz pianist who died in 2006.

The Brothers of Italy can trace its roots to the Italian Socialist Movement (MSI). That was a neo-fascist party founded in 1946 by supporters of the dictator’s regime, including former high-ranking members of the fascist party. Meloni’s party still keeps the same logo as MSI, an Italian flag taking the form of a flame.