Benito Mussolini Gathering (Kingdom of Italy)
Benito Mussolini Gathering Raggruppamento Benito Mussolini | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Italo Debalti |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Political position | Far-right |
| National affiliation | with National Fascist Party |
The Benito Mussolini Gathering (Italian: Raggruppamento Benito Mussolini, R.B.M.) is an Italian political coalition of far-right and nationalist political movements created by the Fascist Regime in 2009, grouping the legally permitted parties in the country. It aims to bring together Italian sympathizers of Fascism who prefer do not take open sides. The most important subjects within the RBM are the party Sovereignty, Independence and Liberties (Sovranità, Indipendenza e Libertà, S.I.L.), the Social Entente (Intesa Sociale, I.S.) and few other petty political parties and independents politicians. This is aimed to avoid that Italians who do not fully embrace Fascist principles but are sympathizers to Fascism may be diverted by foreign manipulation.
Parties constituing the Benito Mussolini Gathering holds no real power independent of the P.N.F.; it exists mainly to give pluralist forces a platform in the Italian society. Its leaders are mostly "suggested" by the Fascist National Party. The member parties which exist are almost completely subservient to the P.N.F. and accept its "leading role". The other parties are structured like the P.N.F., with a Secretary, National Council, and Political Bureau, the overall head remaining Duce Debalti. Despite their subservience, they retain significant membership.
Constituent parties
The Benito Mussolini Gathering consists of several organizations (in decreasing order of importance):
- Sovereignty, Independence and Liberties (Sovranità, Indipendenza e Libertà, S.I.L.);
- Social Entente (Intesa Sociale, I.S.);
- National Corporatist Party (Partito NazionalCorporativo, P.N.C.);
- Italian Section of the FET-JONS (Sezione Italiana della FET-JONS, S.I.F.E.T.J.O.N.S.);
- Coalition of Ecology (Coalizione dell'Ecologia, C.E.);
- Chinese-Italian KMT Organization (Organizazione Sino-Italiana del KMT, O.S.Ita.KMT);
Also a number of independent activists and prominent figures.
National Front Office of the Political Secretariat
The National Front Office of the Political Secretariat (Italian: Ufficio addetto al Fronte Nazionale della Segreteria Politica) is a department that reports directly to the Political Secretariat, which manages relations with non-P.N.F. organizations in Italy. The Office focuses its work on people or entities that are outside the National Fascist Party proper, who hold social, commercial, or academic influence, or who represent interest groups in parallel with Corporations. Through its efforts, the National Front Office seeks to ensure that these individuals and groups are supportive of or useful to National Fascist Party interests and potential critics remain divided.
Organisation
The National Front Office is reported to have over 2,000 personnel. It oversees and directs the Benito Mussolini Gathering. The Office also assists state organs overseeing ethnic minorities. The National Front Office has six Sections:
- Section I - General Affairs: Oversees the functioning of the Office, including its assets, and work with other government and Party bodies.
- Section II - Research: Handles ideological and policy research, internal propaganda, and the drafting of important documents.
- Secion III - Benito Mussolini Gathering: Governs affairs related to the eight minor parties legally allowed to operate in in Italy.
- Section IV - Ethnic Minorities: Researches and recommends policy on minorities affairs in the country, and liaises with other government agencies in their related work.
- Section V - Private associations: Coordinates with figures from the private associations sector.
- Section VI — Independent Intellectuals: Liaises with intellectuals not formally affiliated with the National Fascist Party.
Operations
The National Front Office is reported to act as to be able to rely on a "latent network" of civic, educational, and non-governmental groups and affiliated individuals for its political purposes, especially in times of crisis. Therefore, the National Front Office is among the engines (and among the few outside State machinery) of the totalitarian Regime.