Lega deputy leader compares Diop to Venezi.Roberto Vannacci, the deputy leader of Italy's right-wing Lega party, sparked a racism row on Thursday over a social media post slamming the appointment of the Tuscany region's new vice president, 23-year-old Mia Diop.A political science student born in Italy to a Senegalese father and an Italian-German mother, Diop was appointed this week by Tuscany governor Eugenio Giani following his re-election last month. Claiming that Diop has "no experience whatsoever", Vannacci wrote on X that her only qualifications for the role were being a member of the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) and having "black skin". Vannacci, an MEP and former army general, then drew parallels between Diop and the case of Beatrice Venezi - a 35-year-old conductor with ties to Italy's right-wing premier Giorgia Meloni - who has faced a storm of controversy since being appointed last month as music director of the Venice opera house La Fenice. A sinistra zero polemiche per la nomina a vicepresidente della Toscana di Mia Diop, 23enne studentessa senegalese, senza alcuna esperienza. Basta la tessera PD e la pelle nera.Venezi? Di destra, bianca, bionda, cristiana... e pure competente. La verità fa male. pic.twitter.com/JonSFqILJM — Roberto Vannacci (@RoVannacci) November 13, 2025 Venezi's appointment has triggered protests and strikes at the prestigious opera house whose staff claim that she lacks the experience required for such a high-profile role, stressing that she has never conducted an opera at La Fenice or any other major international opera house. There is a strong political dimension to the case too, with staff citing Venezi's "extreme right-wing" views and her friendship with Meloni, who has praised her publicly several times. In his post on Thursday, Vannacci published a picture of the opera conductor beside Diop, writing: "Venezi? Right-wing, white, blonde, Christian....and also competent. The truth hurts." Reaction "These are expressions that are beyond comment, provocative, and absolutely offensive", Tuscany president Giani told reporters, advising Diop to ignore Vannacci and move on. Emiliano Fossi, the regional secretary for the PD, blasted Vannacci's post as "a shameful and racist attack", adding: "Diop was chosen for her abilities." Former prime minister Matteo Renzi also slammed the remarks by Vannacci, reminding him of his "resounding flop" in Tuscany where the former general had been entrusted with managing the Lega's election campaign. "He caused the Lega to lose 20 points" - Renzi said - "and he dares to criticise the decisions of Eugenio Giani, who swept the board. He should get used to democracy."

, the deputy leader of Italy's right-wing Lega party, sparked a racism row on Thursday over a social media post slamming the appointment of the Tuscany region's new vice president, . A political science student born in Italy to a Senegalese father and an Italian-German mother, Diop was appointed this week by Tuscany governor . Claiming that Diop has "no experience whatsoever", wrote on X that her only qualifications for the role were being a member of the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) and having "black skin". Vannacci, an MEP and former army general, then drew parallels between Diop and - a 35-year-old conductor with ties to Italy's right-wing premier Giorgia Meloni - who has faced a storm of controversy since being appointed last month as music director of the Venice opera house La Fenice. A sinistra zero polemiche per la nomina a vicepresidente della Toscana di Mia Diop, 23enne studentessa senegalese, senza alcuna esperienza. Basta la tessera PD e la pelle nera.
Venezi? Di destra, bianca, bionda, cristiana... e pure competente. La verità fa male. — Roberto Vannacci (@RoVannacci) Venezi's appointment has triggered protests and strikes at the prestigious opera house whose staff claim that she lacks the experience required for such a high-profile role, stressing that she has never conducted an opera at La Fenice or any other major international opera house. There is a strong political dimension to the case too, with staff citing Venezi's "extreme right-wing" views and her friendship with Meloni, who has praised her publicly several times. In his post on Thursday, Vannacci published a picture of the opera conductor beside Diop, writing: "Venezi? Right-wing, white, blonde, Christian....and also competent. The truth hurts." Reaction "These are expressions that are beyond comment, provocative, and absolutely offensive", Tuscany president Giani told reporters, advising Diop to ignore Vannacci and move on. Emiliano Fossi, the regional secretary for the PD, blasted Vannacci's post as "a shameful and racist attack", adding: "Diop was chosen for her abilities." Former prime minister Matteo Renzi also slammed the remarks by Vannacci, reminding him of his "resounding flop" in Tuscany where the former general had been entrusted with managing the Lega's election campaign.