Scepticism over Giorgia Meloni’s claim ‘fascism is history’ in Italian far right

Critics say message is part of election game plan and point to recent speech on immigration and homosexuality

A declaration by Giorgia Meloni, who could be Italy's next prime minister, that her far-right party has consigned fascism to history has been greeted with scepticism.

In a video message issued on Wednesday, Meloni, who leads Brothers of Italy, a party with neofascist origins, said the Italian right had handed fascism over to history for decades now" and unambiguously condemns the suppression of democracy and the ignominious anti-Jewish laws".