Berlusconi party puts up burglar killer candidate
Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party has put forward a man under investigation for culpable homicide to vie in Milan's council elections next year.
Francesco Sicignano, 65, shot and killed a 22-year-old Albanian intruder in his home in Vaprio D'Adda, near Milan, in October.
The case made headlines across Italy and became a political hobby horse for the political right.
Many parties, including Forza Italia, Brothers of Italy and the far-right Northern League have used the case to argue that Italian gun laws are too strict and prevent people from defending themselves.
Sicignano may be under investigation for the shooting but he has wasted no time in capitalizing on his new found status as a poster-boy for the right, with many political heavyweights coming out in support of him and the hashtag #Imwithfrancesco trending on social media.
He had been heavily courted by Brothers of Italy before he finally chose to launch his political career with Forza Italia, something he said was due to his admiration of party leader, Silvio Berlusconi.
“I think someone like him, who is 80 and still in politics, must really love their country and I love my country too,” he told La Repubblica.
But Sicignano admitted that his admiration for Italy's three-time prime minister was more than merely political, and in the process perhaps made the first gaffe of his political career.
“I think Berlusconi and I have a lot in common. For a start, we both like foxy women,” he said.
See Also
Francesco Sicignano, 65, shot and killed a 22-year-old Albanian intruder in his home in Vaprio D'Adda, near Milan, in October.
The case made headlines across Italy and became a political hobby horse for the political right.
Many parties, including Forza Italia, Brothers of Italy and the far-right Northern League have used the case to argue that Italian gun laws are too strict and prevent people from defending themselves.
Sicignano may be under investigation for the shooting but he has wasted no time in capitalizing on his new found status as a poster-boy for the right, with many political heavyweights coming out in support of him and the hashtag #Imwithfrancesco trending on social media.
He had been heavily courted by Brothers of Italy before he finally chose to launch his political career with Forza Italia, something he said was due to his admiration of party leader, Silvio Berlusconi.
“I think someone like him, who is 80 and still in politics, must really love their country and I love my country too,” he told La Repubblica.
But Sicignano admitted that his admiration for Italy's three-time prime minister was more than merely political, and in the process perhaps made the first gaffe of his political career.
“I think Berlusconi and I have a lot in common. For a start, we both like foxy women,” he said.
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.