ZAGREB, November 3, 2018 – Rijeka mayor Vojko Obersnel said on Friday the Italian pro-fascist organisation CasaPound did not ask the city for permission to organise a concert on Saturday for the centenary of Italy’s victory in WW I, as has been unofficially announced on social media, adding that he would turn down any such request.
“We would turn it down because of the fascist ideas advocated by this organisation,” Obersnel said in a press release following numerous queries put to the town government.
He said the concert in question would not be held on public or town premises, but the town could not regulate events planned and organised on private premises. “However, I believe Rijeka business owners would turn down a request from this organisation and that no Rijeka concert promoter or organiser would work together with this organisation.”
Obersnel said Rijeka had a long history of anti-fascism which was reflected in the protection and development of human rights, in the town’s openness to tolerance and acceptance, contrary to all neo-fascist messages and concepts advocating the suppression of humans on any grounds.
CasaPound has announced on its social media that the concert will be held at 9 p.m. on November 3, giving the location as Fiume (the Italian name of Rijeka). It has also announced a march in Trieste, Italy, also on the occasion of Italy’s victory in WW I. This was followed by unofficial information that the concert will actually take place in Trieste’s Fiume cafe.
Slovenian antifascist associations warn president Pahor of neo-fascist rally in Trieste
Slovenian antifascist associations warned President Borut Pahor of the danger of the rally CasaPound plans to hold in Trieste on Saturday, asking him to warn his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella.
One of the associations, TIGR, told the two presidents the rally should be banned because it is against Italian laws which have banned the revival of the fascist party a number of times.
Slovenian daily Večer said a majority of the Italian public was against CasaPound and its rally so that a big counter-rally, supported by Italian democratic parties, could also be expected in Trieste.
Slovenian PM condemns announced rally of neo-fascists in Trieste
Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Šarec on Friday evening said that Fascism “is the personification of the evil and should not enjoy anyone’s support”, while commenting on the announcements that far-right CasaPound Italy political party would hold a rally in the Italian city of Trieste near the border with Slovenia on Saturday.
Šarec said in his comment which he posted on social networks that the western parts of Slovenia and ethnic Slovenians in Trieste had long suffered under the Fascist rule, and therefore he considers the rally of that far-right party in Trieste to be an act of rubbing salt into their wounds.
The umbrella association of ethnic Slovenians in Trieste has said in the meantime that its members will join the counter-rally to be organised by left parties.
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