The Undersecretary of State in the Italian government led by Mario Draghi has resigned after sparking controversy due to his desire to name a public park after Mussolini's brother. Claudio Durigon, the Undersecretary for Economy and Finance and a member of the far-right League party led by Matteo Salvini, announced his resignation in an open letter, admitting that he had made "mistakes" and stating he was "ready to pay the price." He also affirmed, "I am not a fascist and I never have been."
For the past three weeks, Durigon, an ally of Salvini, has faced calls to resign after he suggested naming a park in the coastal town of Latina, which he represents in the Chamber of Deputies, after Arnaldo Mussolini, one of Benito Mussolini's brothers. The proposal to rename the park, which is dedicated to honoring judges Paolo Borsellino and Giovanni Falcone who were killed by the mafia, has ignited heated debates within both the right and left, as well as within the League party itself.
Moderates within the League view the proposal as an expression of fascism that harms the party's efforts to improve its image. Meanwhile, Salvini praised Durigon for "leaving his position out of love for Italy and the League" on Thursday evening.
Durigon, 49, was born in Latina in the marshy area, which was significantly improved during the fascist era. His ancestors were agricultural laborers living in poverty in Veneto (northeast) who were moved to the region to participate in its improvement and subsequent exploitation. The fascist movement glorifies the reclamation of this marshland area, and some residents still view it positively. Durigon was elected as a deputy in 2018 and was appointed Undersecretary for Social Affairs in Giuseppe Conte's government, which led a coalition between the Five Star Movement and the League.
