Politicians from across Italy’s political spectrum have condemned the vandalism of a marble plaque marking the site where the body of Socialist MP Giacomo Matteotti was found in 1924 following his assassination by Fascist agents.
The plaque, located near the banks of the River Tiber was defaced overnight, sparking swift reactions from officials and renewed debate over Italy’s Fascist past.
Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano visited the site on Monday to inspect the damage. “This is an unacceptable act against the memory of someone who stood up for democracy at the cost of his life,” he said.
Matteotti’s granddaughter, Elena Matteotti, called on Premier Giorgia Meloni to publicly condemn the vandalism. Meloni, leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, has previously acknowledged the Fascist regime’s responsibility for Matteotti’s death. In 2024, during the centenary commemorations, she described the killing as the work of “Fascist thugs.”
Matteotti, aged 39, was a prominent critic of Benito Mussolini. On 30 May 1924, he stood in Parliament to denounce the Fascists’ use of violence and electoral fraud during that year’s general election. Eleven days later, he was kidnapped and murdered by Fascist agents.
His body was discovered weeks later in a shallow grave in the countryside of Riano. The murder shocked the nation and marked a turning point in Italian history. Mussolini, under pressure, took political responsibility for the assassination in 1925 and soon after dissolved Parliament, paving the way for his dictatorship.
The vandalism has drawn condemnation from all sides of Italian politics, with lawmakers stressing the need to protect the memory of those who resisted authoritarianism.
An investigation into the incident is under way. Local authorities have pledged to restore the plaque and increase security around key memorial sites.
