Rachele Mussolini Leaves Brothers of Italy for Forza Italia

Rachele Mussolini, granddaughter of Benito Mussolini and a city councillor in Rome, has left Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, citing its extreme right-wing stance and her disagreement on minority rights. She is joining the more centrist Forza Italia. This move comes amid her recent criticism of Meloni over a gender dispute involving an Algerian boxer.

Rachele Mussolini, the granddaughter of Italy's wartime dictator Benito Mussolini, has announced her departure from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party. The city councillor in Rome cited the party's hardline stance on minority rights as her primary reason for the move. Mussolini, who garnered the most votes in the last city council elections in 2021, will now join the more centrist Forza Italia.

The Brothers of Italy party, with roots tracing back to the post-World War II Italian Social Movement (MSI), has faced criticism for its conservative view on immigration, abortion, and same-sex parenting. Despite attempts by Meloni to rebrand the party, critics argue that the changes are superficial.

A political source highlighted that rights issues significantly influenced Mussolini's decision. Recently, she publicly disagreed with Meloni regarding the gender identity of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, defending Khelif against accusations made after an Olympic match. Mussolini emphasized that Khelif should be recognized as a woman and condemned the scrutiny she faced.

(With inputs from agencies.)