Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio says penal code bears Mussolini's signature amid antifascist pass debate

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio criticised the organisers of the national small‑and‑medium‑publisher fair “Più Libri Più Liberi”, set for December in Rome, for requiring an “antifascist pass”. He remarked, “perhaps the organisers do not know that the most important book for our justice, the Penal Code, bears Mussolini’s signature.”

His comments followed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s accusation of censorship over the same requirement. The fair’s organisers defended the measure as a declaration of adherence to constitutional, democratic principles, insisting it is not censorship. Critics, including AVS deputy Angelo Bonelli and PD senator Dario Parrini, condemned Nordio’s remarks as revisionist and absurd, arguing the Penal Code has been extensively reformed since the fascist era.