A protest unfolded at Italy’s “Più Libri Più Liberi” book fair in Rome this week, as several publishers opted to partially close their stands in response to the presence of “Passaggio al Bosco,” a publishing house accused of promoting neo-fascist content. The presentation highlights escalating concerns over the visibility of far-right ideologies within Italy’s cultural sphere, and prompted intervention from the Lazio regional government regarding books critical of the current prime minister. The incident has ignited a broader debate about the limits of free expression and the responsibility of event organizers to address potentially harmful viewpoints.
Italian Publishers Protest Far-Right Publisher at Book Fair
Several Italian publishers partially closed their stands at the “Più Libri Più Liberi” (More Books, More Freedom) book fair in Rome on Wednesday, protesting the presence of a publishing house with ties to neo-fascist ideology. The move underscores growing concerns about the normalization of far-right political views within Italy’s cultural landscape.
The protest centered on “Passaggio al Bosco,” a publishing house that has been accused of promoting neo-fascist and revisionist content. Publishers participating in the demonstration obscured their stands with dark coverings, effectively shutting down business for a period of time.
The action was a response to what many publishers see as a lack of response from organizers to their concerns about “Passaggio al Bosco’s” participation. Some argued that allowing the publisher a platform at the fair was a betrayal of the event’s stated values.
“The problem is with the fascists, not with us,” stated a headline from Il Manifesto, reflecting a sentiment shared by many of the protesting publishers.
The regional government of Lazio also became involved, with reports indicating officials attempted to dissuade publishers from displaying books critical of Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister. According to HuffPost Italia, this took the form of what some are calling “(im)moral suasion.”
The controversy has sparked debate about freedom of expression and the responsibility of cultural institutions to address extremist ideologies. Zerocalcare, a popular Italian comic artist and author, weighed in on the situation, criticizing what he described as the hypocrisy of those claiming to champion liberal values while simultaneously accommodating far-right viewpoints. Linkiesta.it published an article detailing his critique.
Other publishers also voiced their discontent, with AGI reporting that stands were closed at “Più Libri Più Liberi” in protest against “Passaggio al bosco.”
The incident at the book fair is likely to fuel ongoing discussions about the rise of right-wing extremism in Italy and the challenges of balancing free speech with the need to counter hate speech and intolerance.
