Roberto Vannacci

Roberto Vannacci (born 20 October 1968) is a politician and former Italian Army military general. Since July 2024, he has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament; elected for the League, in February 2026 he founded his own political party, National Future.

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.

Vannacci became a well-known and discussed figure following the publication, in August 2023, of his book Il mondo al contrario which, due to the controversial statements expressed on feminism, immigrants, homosexuals, environmentalism, and Jews 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. 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".

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.