Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on Thursday promised disciplinary action against a homophobic general for remarks made in a self-published book. The General concerned also lashed out at feminism and environmentalism, among other issues.
Vannacci, formerly head of the Folgore paratroopers, self-published his book titled ‘The world back to front’, the contents of which had not been shared or cleared by military bosses. The 55-year-old General currently directs the Italian Military Geographic Institute (IGMI).
“Do not use the personal rantings of a serving general to polemicise with the Defence ministry and the armed forces,” said Crosetto on X (formerly Twitter).
“General Vannacci has expressed opinions that discredit the Army, Defence and the Constitution. For this reason, the Defence ministry will start the foreseen disciplinary examination,” he added.
“The Armed Force distances itself from the entirely personal considerations (as specified in the text) expressed by the officer,” read a separate statement from the army. It added that the force reserved the right “to take all measures necessary to protect its image”.
What did the General say?
In his book Vannacci says of homosexuals: “You are not normal, come to terms with it!”, insisting that “normality is heterosexuality”.
“If everything seems normal to you, however, it is the fault of the plots of the international gay lobby,” he adds.
He also speaks strongly in favour of self defence: If a burglar enters a house, “why should I not be authorised to shoot him, to stab him with whatever object I can get my hands on?”.
“If I plunge the pencil I have in my breast pocket into the jugular of the mug that attacks me, killing him, why should I risk being condemned?”
The General is not the only person of authority in Italy to make openly homophobic remarks. Earlier this year, the speaker of the Senate, La Russa, also spouted bile in a TV interview.
