The ruling rightwing League party on
Wednesday reported Siena University for Foreigners Dean Tomaso
Montanari to University Minister Anna Maria Bernini for refusing
to fly the institution's flags at half mast as decided by the
government to honour late ex premier Silvio Berlusconi on the
day of his state funeral and a national day of mourning.
The League said universities should be a-political institutions.
Montanari said the Italian State was "betraying itself" in
granting national mourning to a late premier for the first time,
for such a divisive figure.
He said his refusal was "an act of patriotism".
An "I'm Not In Mourning" movement swept Italy Wednesday as
Italians who did not agree with the day of mourning protested
against giving such an honour to such a polarising figure.
Several councils in towns and cities run by the centre-left
opposition Democratic Party (PD) also refused to fly their flags
at half mast, a decision described as a "disgrace" by the
League.
Montanari is a prominent leftwing intellectual who often appears
on TV.
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