A significant development was reported yesterday in the campaign against the restoration of the “Fascist Era” statue in Brescia:

The joint session of the several Committees involved in the “Bigio” operation was adjourned with a decision to refer the issue to the City Council meeting to be held on April 5th.

A joint session of the Committees had been already convened on Wednesday 20th of march, when representatives of ANPI and FFVV were invited to represent their opposition and the results of the Petition launched both around town and online, which has now gathered more than 2,000 signatures against the Bigio.

This is an important step, as it appears to stop the Administration led by Adriano Paroli from commissioning the city’s local transport agency (Brescia Mobilità) to restore the statue, without taking the matter to Council. ANPI and FFVV representatives claim this is an essential requirement, given that no Administration has so far repealed the city government’s resolution from September 1945, and the subsequent resolution from December 1945, which agreed that the removed “Fascist Era” statue would not be restored in Piazza della Vittoria.

 

More on this issue:

• Brescia says No to a 24-ft high fascist statue towering over its central Piazza della Vittoria

• Italian Democratic Party (#PD) in #Brescia reviews cost of #Fascist statue to a staggering 460,000 €

• Former Mayor Paolo Corsini (PD) says No to the Bigio being restored to central Brescia

• “The Bigio controversy ends up on Twitter”, Corriere della Sera, 13th March 2013

• Brescia’s “Fascist Era” controversy on Radio Popolare. Interview with president of ANPI Brescia Giulio Ghidotti, 22nd March 2013

• Rally / flash mob against “Fascist Era” statue on National TV network RAI, 23rd March

• Brescia’s Fascist Era statue on the Guardian, Saturday 6th April 2013