Salò Revokes Benito Mussolini's Honorary Citizenship After a Century

The northern Italian town, once the seat of Mussolini's puppet regime, has formally stripped the fascist dictator of an honor granted in 1924.

The town council of Salò, located on Lake Garda, voted to revoke Benito Mussolini's honorary citizenship, which was awarded to him in 1924 during his rule as Italy's fascist leader.
The decision was spearheaded by Francesco Cagnini, the 28-year-old social-democratic mayor elected in 2024, who leads a center-left coalition that replaced a long-standing center-right administration.
Salò is historically tied to Mussolini as the seat of the Italian Social Republic (1943–1945), a Nazi-backed puppet state led by Mussolini during the final years of World War II.
The move reflects a broader trend in Italy, where other towns have also stripped Mussolini of similar honors, though the exact number of places that still recognize him as an honorary citizen remains unknown.
The revocation comes at a time when Italy continues to grapple with the legacy of fascism, as evidenced by the enduring presence of neofascist gatherings and symbols in certain parts of the country.