The opposition challenges La Russa in the Senate with a motion to celebrate April 25 “with respect for historical truth”

ROME – “Adopt the necessary initiatives so that the commemorations of the founding dates of our anti-fascist history take place in respect of the shared historical truth”. It is the commitment that the oppositions are asking the Senate to make, in view of April 25th. A challenge – even if implicit – to the president Ignatius LaRussa, after the disputed sentences on via Rasella. The celebrations must be carried out, underlines the text, in respect “of the shared historical truth”, because “only in this way” can they be “fertile ground for the maintenance and construction of a collective identity and a sense of belonging to a community”.

The motion is signed by all the opposition group leaders Francesco Boccia (PD), Barbara Florida (M5S), Raffaella Paita (Third pole), Julia Unterberger (Autonomies), Peppe de Cristofaro (Left Green Alliance). The request, presented at the conference of group leaders in the Senate, is to discuss the text in the Chamber already this week.

The text quotes part of the declaration made by the senator for life Liliana Segre last October 13, as provisional president of the Chamber, in the opening speech at the start of the new legislature on the founding dates of the Republic. “The great nations (…) demonstrate that they are such even by recognizing themselves unanimously on civil holidays, finding themselves united around the anniversaries engraved in the great book of national history – reads the motion, quoting Segre – Why shouldn’t it be like this for the Italian people? Because Should April 25, Liberation Day, May 1, Labor Day, June 2, Republic Day, never be experienced as divisive dates, rather than with an authentic republican spirit? of the dates that mark a pact between the generations, between memory and the future, great could be the value of the example, of new and perhaps unexpected gestures”. The motion therefore continues by recalling that the “dates that mark a pact between generations, between memory and the future” are truly the subject of sharing, reflection, warning and teaching not only for young people, but for all citizens, it is necessary that the institutions first of all work for the transmission of knowledge of history, the result of the rigor of unitary and shared historical reconstruction”.

The signatures for the resignation of La Russa

The petition launched on Saturday 1 April to ask for the resignation of the president of the Senate “after the shameful statements made regarding the attack in via Rasella, has already been signed online by over thirty-six thousand people”. This can be read in a note from the national coordination of the Popular Union. Personalities from culture, entertainment, information and associations who wanted to side with UP signed their signature, “not in the name of a facade of anti-fascism but sensing the urgency of reconstructing a historical truth not tainted by revisionism”.

“Many comrades of up were present at the demonstration also organized by other anti-fascist forces precisely in via Rasella against privatization, authoritarianism, obscurantism, differentiated autonomy, war. It is a question – the note continues – of products of neoliberal policies and for Up, supporting the petition leading to the resignation of La Russa is inseparable from carrying forward these and other struggles; this is the meaning we give to anti-fascism in the 21st century, which translates into the defense and application of the Constitution and in restoring real conditions of democracy to this country”.