"I was born with a black shirt and I will die with a black shirt": is the sentence, written in a comment to a post on social media, which sparked a controversy about Mauro Giannini, mayor of Pennabilli, a town in the Romagna Apennines in province of Rimini, where Tonino Guerra lived for many years.
Among the numerous protests that triggered the sentence, in addition to those of the opposition municipal councilors, also that of the Santarcangelo di Romagna section of the Anpi, which asked the prefect of Rimini to intervene.
Giannini, who is not new to statements on his social profiles that trigger controversy, had written a long post to announce his final leave from the army.
It was in a comment to this post that he wrote the offending sentence, which then disappeared because the post was removed from Facebook after a series of reports.
"A man who should represent citizenship and embody the principles of our Republic - accuses Giusi Delvecchio, local president of the Partisans Association - is proud to share an ideology steeped in hatred and which has contributed to the killing of millions of people in Italy and in the world.
Speaking with Resto del Carlino, he claimed his position: "If you understand fascism as I understand it - he said - I am honored that they call me a fascist.
The fascist spirit for me is in the values of God, country and family.
If, on the other hand, being a fascist means being racist and in favor of war, then I don't recognize myself ".
