Roberto Vannacci, an Italian general and far-right leader, became a central figure in Italian politics by founding the populist party Futuro Nazionale. The military officer, who had already caused controversy with his ultra-conservative book, accelerated rumors of a possible early election in Italy.
This week, Vannacci published a provocative image on his social media, wearing a Soviet ushanka with the red star, a glass of vodka in hand, and a sarcastic message directed at the Financial Times. The British newspaper published an article calling him "Putin's horse in Italy," which deeply irritated the general.
In the post, Vannacci mocked in English about the article, pretending to write with a "trembling hand" upon discovering he would be a "puppet candidate deployed by the Russian Federation" to complain about the unsustainable price of gasoline. The provocation aimed to ridicule the accusations of proximity to Moscow.
Vannacci's pro-Russian stance contrasts with the line of the ruling party Brothers of Italy, led by Giorgia Meloni, which maintains a position aligned with NATO and the European Union. His political rise comes at a time of growing speculation about a possible early election in Italy.
