The Controversial Career of General Roberto Vannacci: From Military Achievements to Political Aspirations

Who is General Roberto Vannacci? First commander of the Task Force 45 in Afghanistan, commander of the Special Forces Task Group in Iraq, and head of the Folgore Paratroopers Brigade, he has been at the center of controversy for his self-published book on Amazon 'The World Upside Down', which was the best seller from the American giant from August 14 to 20. Today, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini confirmed that the general will run in the European elections with the League. He was suspended for 11 months by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and is currently under investigation for embezzlement and fraud. Vannacci runs with the League for the Europeans, Salvini: 'In our list in all constituencies'. The general: 'I will be independent'. Son of an artillery captain and with a military career spanning almost forty years, he has earned degrees and masters in Italy and abroad. General Roberto Vannacci, 55 years old, born in La Spezia but raised in Ravenna, has been in service in the army since he was 18 years old. Vannacci under investigation for embezzlement and fraud: 'I could still run'. The League: 'Timed action'. Having obtained his commando qualification, he participated in 'neutralization' missions of terrorists in Somalia and in the recovery of civilians during the genocide in Rwanda. In 2011, he organized the emergency evacuation plan of the diplomatic headquarters in Tripoli. To his operational roles, he adds those of command. Thus, during his long military career, which also counts experiences in Libya, Yemen, and the former Yugoslavia, he also received the shortest command of his life (June 21 - August 18, 2023) from the Military Geographic Institute of Florence. Following the publication of 'The World Upside Down', in fact, he was dismissed. In Iraq, General Vannacci was sent as the commander of the entire Italian contingent to personally train the local militias to fight on the field against the terrorists of ISIS and to direct counter-insurgency activities. During his time in Iraq, the military distinguished himself for an initiative unwelcome to the highest ranks of the Armed Forces, coming to present two reports on the lack of protection of the contingent on the front line regarding the risks posed by depleted uranium. Decorated 14 times (also by the United States of America - with the Bronze Star Medal and the Legion of Merit - for his activities in Afghanistan and Iraq), General Vannacci has three master's degrees, in strategic, military, and international diplomatic studies, and is fluent in Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian. On the Russian language, however, he was still taking his first steps when, in 2022, he was removed from Moscow along with the entire Italian diplomatic contingent, of which he was the Defense Attaché, immediately after the attack on Ukraine and the breaking of relations between Russia and Italy. On February 26, 2024, following various complaints filed against him by some associations, the Rome Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation for incitement to racial hatred against Vannacci because of the book 'The World Upside Down'. A few days later, he was suspended from employment for 11 months following the disciplinary proceeding initiated by the Ministry of Defense for the publication of the book, which would have determined a 'damage to the principle of neutrality/impartiality of the Armed Force compromising the prestige and reputation of the Administration of belonging and generating possible disruptive and divisive imitative effects within the military component'.