Former Italian Chamber of Deputies President Fausto Bertinotti has ignited controversy with remarks about Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

During a TV interview, Bertinotti criticized Meloni’s comments on the Manifesto of Ventotene, a foundational European document, stating he would have thrown a book in protest if present in Parliament.

He argued that Meloni’s critique crossed a line, calling for a symbolic act to highlight the breach.

Bertinotti, who identifies as non-violent, emphasized the need to defend parliamentary decorum.

Members of Meloni’s party, Fratelli d’Italia, condemned his words as incitement to violence, accusing the left of fostering a toxic political climate.

The debate underscores deep divisions over the legacy of the Manifesto and its role in Italian politics.