Biography
Vannacci was born in La Spezia, Liguria, in 1968. He attended the Military Academy of Modena and the Application School of Turin and obtained three master's degrees: in strategic sciences, achieved at the University of Turin, in international and diplomatic sciences at the University of Trieste and in military sciences at the University of Bucharest.
During his military career, Vannacci held the roles of commander of the 9th Paratroopers Assault Regiment "Col Moschin", of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore", of the Italian troops in the Iraqi civil war as well as of "Task Force 45" during the War in Afghanistan. He also commanded Italian forces deployed in the Balkans, Rwanda, Somalia and Libya, and was awarded the US Legion of Merit in 2018 for his efforts to combat the Islamic State group. [3]
Vannacci became a well-known and discussed figure following the publication, in August 2023, of his book Il mondo al contrario (The world upside down) which, due to the controversial statements expressed on feminism, immigrants, homosexuals, environmentalism, and Jews [4] brought him to the center of considerable media attention. The book rose to first place among the best sellers in Italy in the week from 14 to 20 August. [5] Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said that the publication had not been cleared by Vannacci's superiors and that Vannacci "expressed opinions that discredit the Army, the Ministry of Defence and the Constitution". [3]
On 18 August 2023, a summary investigation was opened against General Vannacci for the contents of his book by the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, Army Corps General Pietro Serino.
Given the results of this investigation, on 4 November the general was informed of the opening of a formal investigation against him to ascertain any disciplinary infractions. [6] This investigation ended in February 2024 with suspension from service for 11 months with half the salary. [7] According to the conclusions of the internal proceedings, in fact, the publication of the book would have determined an "injury to the principle of neutrality/third party of the Armed Force [...] compromising the prestige and reputation of the Administration to which it belongs and generating possible disruptive and divisive emulative effects in the 'scope of the military team". [8]
Member of the European Parliament
In April 2024, he accepted the candidacy to the European Parliament for the political party Lega. [9] He was elected to the European Parliament and was the second most voted candidate in Italy. [10] On 16 July 2024, he was elected vice president of the EP group Patriots for Europe, [11] but his nominee was opposed by the other parties and he was removed on the following day. [12] [13]
On 15 May 2025, Vannacci was appointed deputy secretary of Lega, under the leadership of Matteo Salvini. [14]
Political positions
Abortion
Vannacci has described himself as opposed to abortion, explaining that he doesn't consider it a right and that it's necessary to try to convince women not to have abortions. [15] He has endorsed the value manifesto of the non-profit organization Pro Vita & Famiglia. [16]
Disability
Vannacci expressed the desire to create separate classes for intellectually disabled students, arguing that this wouldn't be a discriminatory approach: "You can have them attend a lesson together, for a sense of belonging, but then they need specific support." [15] The proposal was harshly criticized by politicians across the entire parliamentary spectrum, including members of the Lega, and by the Italian Episcopal Conference. [17] [18] Subsequently, the General reaffirmed his statements, declaring his conviction that helping disabled individuals in the most specific way may sometimes "not coincide with putting them together with other people with different characteristics" [17] and that dedicated facilities would be necessary to ensure they receive particular attentions. [19]
Fascism
According to some observers, Vannacci deliberately conducted a communication campaign based on being politically incorrect, seeking the votes of fascist nostalgics in an indirect way by playing on a certain ambiguity. [20] He refused to define himself as antifascist, arguing that "you cannot be against something that no longer exists", [21] stated that Benito Mussolini "did good things", [22] and referred to him several times as a "statesman", since he held government positions. [23] [15] [24]
Other controversies arose during the 2024 European election campaign, when Vannacci released an electoral video spot in which he invited voters to mark una decima on the Lega symbol. Accused of wanting to celebrate the Xª Flottiglia MAS of the Italian Social Republic, Vannacci clarified that he was referring to the namesake special unit of the Royal Navy that operated until 1943. [25] He made similar references on subsequent occasions. [26] [27]
Russia
Vannacci has taken favorable positions towards Russia and Vladimir Putin, developed during his time as a military attaché in Moscow and expressed in the book Il mondo al contrario. [28] [29] [30] He stated that he doesn't support the Russian invasion of Ukraine, [31] but that he would prefer to be governed by Putin rather than Volodymyr Zelensky, citing the popular support that Putin supposedly enjoys. [22] [32] He has also claimed that he does not believe Putin is responsible for the death of Alexei Navalny, as there is no objective evidence. [22]
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Italy 
Italian Army 
Divisional General 
5th Class / Knight, OMRI 
Commander, Legion of Merit 
