Pino Rauti
Giuseppe Umberto Rauti (born in Cardinale near
Catanzaro,
1926) has been a leading figure on the
Italian far right for many years.
Having joined the Italian army as a seventeen year old, Rauti was captured by the British in
1945 and again by the French following his escape from custody. He returned to
Italy in
1946 and joined the
Italian Social Movement (MSI), becoming associated with
Julius Evola and
Giorgio Almirante.
Rauti became disillusioned with the MSI, particularly after the party supported the presidency bid of
Giovanni Gronchi and the premiership of
Giuseppe Pella, and so he split in
1956 to form his own
think tank, the
Ordine Nuovo, which lasted until
1969, when he returned to the MSI.
Rauti was called to trial in
1972 in
Treviso for his alleged involvement in a number of
terrorist attacks, although he was acquitted of involvement and his position within the MSI was strengthened as a result of his vindication.
Upon
Giorgio Almirante's retirement from the MSI leadership in
1987, Rauti put himself forward as a candidate, but lost out to
Gianfranco Fini by 727 ballots to 608. However a very poor showing in the municipal elections in
Rome in
1989 saw Fini removed and in early
1990, and Rauti was elected as secretary of the MSI. However further local election disasters followed and Rauti was gone by the following year, with Fini again taking charge.
Rauti remained a hard-line critic of Fini's leadership until
1995 when Fini declared the dissolution of the MSI and the foundation, in its place, of the
Alleanza Nazionale. Seeing this a break from the
fascist heritage which he felt was central to the MSI, Rauti led a group of militants to break away and form the
Fiamma Tricolore, which he saw as continuing the path of fascism.
Advancing years have since saw Rauti step down as party leader and largely retire from politics, handing over leadership of the Fiamma Tricolore to
Luca Romagnoli. However Rauti has since led a split from the group and is now the leader of his own minor group, the
Social Idea Movement.
