The right-wing Italian president of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani apologised on Thursday for 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,” Mr. Tajani said in a statement in English.
Mr. Tajani was in hot water earlier after talking up dictator Benito Mussolini’s contributions, in an Italian radio interview on Wednesday.
“You don’t have to agree with his methods... but let’s be honest, Mussolini built roads, bridges, buildings, sports installations, he remade many parts of our Italy,” said Mr. Tajani.
“Generally speaking I don’t think his government action was positive. But things were done,” he added.
