Franco, Ciccio

By profession a railwayman. From early youth, an active member of the neo-fascist MSI , a supporter of corporate syndicalism . For over 30 years, he led the Reggio Calabria branch structure of the CISNAL affiliate affiliated with the neo-fascist party. He was the organizer of labor protests under far-right populist slogans. It gained wide popularity in the region. He actively fought against communist influence in the trade union movement and municipal bodies.

Reason and Reason

In June 1970, the left wing of the regional council of Reggio Calabria managed to decide on the transfer of the provincial administrative center from the city of Reggio Calabria (dominated by right-wing populists) to the city of Catanzaro (more subject to left-wing influence). This plan, supported by the center-left government, meant serious social and economic losses for the city ^[1] . Ciccio Franco declared the local authorities illegitimate and called for disobedience. On June 13, a citywide strike was scheduled. A formal occasion with the transfer of the provincial capital gave way to long-standing protest moods - the inhabitants of the Italian South supported their social authorities and did not want to accept the orders imposed from Rome.

However, the Reggio Calabria rebellion was not purely regional, autonomous or separatist. It is no accident that on July 4, 1970, Chichcho Franco declared the city riot "the first step of the national revolution." Attitudes of the movement had a pronounced neo-fascist character, were imbued with anti-communism , anti-liberalism and anti-bureaucracy, fit into the general Italian extreme right-wing policy. It is significant that the " National Avant-garde " Stefano Delle Chiaye took an active part in the uprising.

Drivers

The protest movement formed the governing “Action Committee”. Chichcho Franco, closely associated with the masses, became his de facto leader. At his call, thousands of citizens took to the streets. Chichcho Franco’s phrase “Scumbag who surrenders!” ( Boia chi molla!; Literal: Chi abbandona (molla) la lotta è un vile assassino (boia)! - “Anyone who refuses inspired fighting is a vile executioner!”) - repeating the words of the Parthenopean Republic of 1799 , the Milan Uprising of 1848 and the legions of D'Annunzio - became the slogan of a civil uprising and the slogan of Italian neo-fascism.

Chichcho Franco contributed to the creation of power brigades of the movement on the basis of neo-fascist organizations. The ultra-left, especially the anarchists , also joined them. The desire to preserve the autonomy of the southern region overpowered ideological contradictions. Attempts by left-wing radicals to create their own movement failed - massive support was given to Chichcho Franco and his allies.

At first there were a lot of guys who thought Reggio would protect the left. But they had to reconsider their political positions. Many became fascists only because only the fascists behaved faithfully in the battle for Reggio.
Chichcho Franco ^[2]

An active role in the events was played by the mafia structure of Ndrangeta ^[3] . Mafia militants participated in street appearances. Funding was provided by opposition-minded businessmen, Demetrio Mauro (coffee industry) and Amedeo Matasena (shipping). The organizers of the “ Borghese conspiracy”, who counted on support from the south of the planned military coup, also showed interest in the events.

High, ending, totals

On September 17, 1970, Ciccio Franco was arrested on charges of incitement to rebellion. The arrest provoked major unrest - the defeat of weapons stores, the seizure of police stations. Reggio practically came out of obedience to Rome. Anti-government riot spread throughout the province. On December 23, authorities were forced to release Chichcho Franco. However, the government decided to tighten order.

On February 23, 1971, the Reggio Calabria uprising was crushed by large police and carabinieri forces with army support. Chichcho Franco moved to an illegal position. In October 1972, left-wing parties organized their demonstration "For the Unity of Italy" in Reggio Calabria. On the night before the planned action, eight explosions occurred in the city and on the railways leading to the city. Ciccio Franco was among the main suspects, but the investigation removed the charge from him.

Throughout Reggio Calabria, central government control was restored. However, the administrative center of the province remained in Reggio Calabria. Thus, the uprising managed to achieve its first concrete requirement.

In the 1972 parliamentary elections, Ciccio Franco was elected to the Senate from the Italian Social Movement. These elections were the most successful in party history, in large part due to the role of MSI in the Reggio Calabria uprising. Subsequently, Ciccio Franco was elected four more times - always from Reggio Calabria and always with record high support. As a parliamentarian, he did his best to lobby for the interests of the region and the position of the right-wing trade union movement.

On November 16, 1991, Chichcho Franco died of a stroke at the age of 61. In Reggio Calabria, his name is surrounded by honor and respect ^[4] , important dates of his life are noted, the city amphitheater is named after him. Mayor Reggio Calabria, now governor of the province of Reggio Calabria Giuseppe Skopeliti (a neo-fascist activist in his youth) called Chichcho Franco "a model for modernity."

Chichcho Franco is a bright and peculiar figure of Italian political history. On the one hand, this is a typical right-wing radical of the Lead Seventies , a charismatic populist, prone to extra-legal actions and ready for violence. But at the same time, he is a long-term legitimate politician, trade union leader and parliamentarian. Chichcho Franco was able to effectively combine legal and illegal forms of political struggle. Of all the Italian neo-fascists, it was Chichcho Franco who had the maximum influence on the masses. The uprising in Reggio Calabria, accompanied almost by the separation of the region from the state, is compared with such phenomena as the “ Makhnovism ” and the Kronstadt uprising ^[5] .

• Italian social movement
• Seventies lead in Italy
• Universal labor union
• Stefano Delle Chiaye
• Giovanni Roberti