Vannacci triggers femicide row while presenting his Futuro Nazionale party in Rome.Roberto Vannacci, the general turned leader of the new far-right Futuro Nazionale party, sparked widespread condemnation in Italy on Sunday by claiming that femicide "does not exist" as a distinct crime.Vannacci told reporters that it is "an ordinary homicide like any other, men and women are equal, and there is no need to protect anyone from anyone else, so everyone must be subject to the same rules". Femicide as a crime Last year Italy made femicide a legally recognised offence, following a series of high-profile killings of women that sparked mass protests nationwide. The bill established femicide as a separate crime from intentional homicide, punishable with a life sentence. It also tackled aggravating circumstances, with increased penalties for the crimes of domestic abuse, stalking, sexual violence and revenge porn. Controversy Vannacci's controversial remarks came during the second day of his party's founding assembly at the Auditorium della Conciliazione in Rome, where he was confirmed as president for a three-year term, with a 120-member national assembly and an executive now in place. Vannacci argued that an offence should not be considered more or less serious depending on the sex, skin colour or religion of the perpetrator or victim, calling this "true equality".  He extended the argument to other policy areas, attacking gender quotas in employment, asking why there were no equivalent quotas for metalworkers or bricklayers, and contending that since violence against the elderly also exists without a specific crime of "elder-cide", he opposed treating femicide as a separate offence. Reaction Vannacci's remarks - which were greeted with applause at the assembly - subsequently sparked bipartisan condemnation from politicians as well as from various associations and anti-violence centres. Among those who objected strongly was the father of femicide victim Ilaria Sula who was murdered in Rome last year. "We must show respect to my daughter and all the other women who are no longer with us because of a man" - Flamur Sula said - "Our daughter was taken from us without a reason, without a motive. Femicide and murder are two very different things." Giulia Bongiorno - a prominent Italian criminal defence lawyer, right-wing senator and president of the Justice Commission - said she hoped that Vannacci was not expressing nostalgia for Italy's old "honour killing" defence. Valeria Valente, a senator with the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) and president of the Femicide Commission in the previous legislature, said: "Those who deny the existence of [femicide] do so because they deny the specific dynamics of male violence, they undermine a real balance of power, and they are the bearers of a patriarchal culture." Challenge to Meloni   Politically, Vannacci used the platform to challenge prime minister Giorgia Meloni directly, declaring that Futuro Nazionale was "ready for a vote even tomorrow" while insisting he had "red lines" in any future centre-right alliance that he was not prepared to negotiate away.   The assembly also featured nationalist and military-style rhetoric, with Vannacci claiming that his party was "already in the trenches" ahead of elections in 2027 Vannacci presented Lucio Dalla's song Futura as the party's anthem, while "camerata" (the fascist-era term for "comrade") was used openly from the stage.     The Futuro Nazionale leader also reiterated his core "remigration" policy of mass deportations of irregular migrants, as well as emphasising themes such as Italian identity, pronatalism and national sovereignty.     "We represent the rejects and the dregs" - Vannacci announced to loud cheers - "and we are proud to be so". Photo credit: Simona Sirio / Shutterstock.com

Roberto Vannacci, the general turned leader of the new far-right Futuro Nazionale party, sparked widespread condemnation in Italy on Sunday by claiming that femicide "does not exist" as a distinct crime. Vannacci told reporters that it is "an ordinary homicide like any other, men and women are equal, and there is no need to protect anyone from anyone else, so everyone must be subject to the same rules". Last year Italy made femicide a legally recognised offence, following a series of high-profile killings of women that . The bill established  from intentional homicide, punishable with a life sentence. It also tackled aggravating circumstances, with increased penalties for the crimes of domestic abuse, stalking, sexual violence and revenge porn. Vannacci's controversial remarks came during the second day of his party's founding assembly at the Auditorium della Conciliazione in Rome, where he was confirmed as president for a three-year term, with a 120-member national assembly and an executive now in place. Vannacci argued that an offence should not be considered more or less serious depending on the sex, skin colour or religion of the perpetrator or victim, calling this "true equality".  He extended the argument to other policy areas, attacking gender quotas in employment, asking why there were no equivalent quotas for metalworkers or bricklayers, and contending that since violence against the elderly also exists without a specific crime of "elder-cide", he opposed treating femicide as a separate offence. Vannacci's remarks - which were greeted with applause at the assembly - subsequently sparked bipartisan condemnation from politicians as well as from various associations and anti-violence centres. Among those who objected strongly was the father of femicide victim  who was murdered in Rome last year. "We must show respect to my daughter and all the other women who are no longer with us because of a man" - Flamur Sula said - "Our daughter was taken from us without a reason, without a motive. Femicide and murder are two very different things." Giulia Bongiorno - a prominent Italian criminal defence lawyer, right-wing senator and president of the Justice Commission - said she hoped that Vannacci was not expressing nostalgia for Italy's old "honour killing" defence. Valeria Valente, a senator with the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) and president of the Femicide Commission in the previous legislature, said: "Those who deny the existence of [femicide] do so because they deny the specific dynamics of male violence, they undermine a real balance of power, and they are the bearers of a patriarchal culture."   Politically, Vannacci used the platform to challenge prime minister Giorgia Meloni directly, declaring that Futuro Nazionale was "ready for a vote even tomorrow" while insisting he had "red lines" in any future centre-right alliance that he was not prepared to negotiate away.   The assembly also featured nationalist and military-style rhetoric, with Vannacci claiming that his party was "already in the trenches" ahead of elections in 2027 Vannacci presented 's song Futura as the party's anthem, while "camerata" (the fascist-era term for "comrade") was used openly from the stage.     The Futuro Nazionale leader also reiterated his core "remigration" policy of mass deportations of irregular migrants, as well as emphasising themes such as Italian identity, pronatalism and national sovereignty.     "We represent the rejects and the dregs" - Vannacci announced to loud cheers - "and we are proud to be so". Photo credit: Simona Sirio / Shutterstock.com