ZCZC
BFF-39
ITALY-POLITICS-MUSSOLINI
European Parliament chief apologises for Mussolini remarks
STRASBOURG, France, March 14, 2019 (AFP) – The right-wing Italian
president of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani apologised Thursday for
controversial remarks defending dictator Benito Mussolini’s record, as MEPs
called for his resignation.
“As a convinced anti-fascist, I apologise to all those who may have been
offended by what I said. My remarks were in no way intended to justify or
minimise an anti-democratic and totalitarian regime,” Tajani, who is close to
tycoon and former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, said in a statement in
English.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1940HRS