Overview

• He made the comments on July 21 at the La Zanzara show in Marina di Pietrasanta, declaring his preference for Putin over Zelensky and questioning claims that Putin was responsible for Aleksey Navalny’s death.
• He praised Benito Mussolini’s infrastructural projects—citing the Pontine Marshes reclamation, the founding of Latina and the creation of INPS—while maintaining that modern Roman salutes do not denote fascism.
• He defended Russian conductor Valerij Gergiev’s right to perform in Europe and opposed the seizure of his assets under constitutional property protections.
• His remarks have drawn criticism from coalition members and opposition figures who say they conflict with Italy’s pro-Ukraine stance and its NATO commitments.
• Forza Italia spokesman Raffaele Nevi said that Vannacci’s public dissent outside official government channels risks weakening Italy’s influence in Brussels.