Naming Of Plaza For Fascist Put Off

After a barrage of protest, Rome’s mayor backed away Monday from his immediate plans to name a plaza after a Fascist minister who signed anti-Semitic laws.

Mayor Francesco Rutelli, a leftist elected in 1993 with Jewish groups’ backing, said in a statement that he would defer a final decision on the naming until the end of the year.

Rutelli said the decision should come during a period of “comprehension and calm” - and after a city-sponsored conference about the minister, Giuseppe Bottai.

Bottai was a member of fascist leader Benito Mussolini’s government from 1936 to 1943. As education minister, he signed laws barring Jews from schools and universities.

But he joined a majority of Fascist officials who voted against Mussolini in 1943, leading to the dictator’s arrest.

Rutelli said naming the plaza after Bottai would help heal the tension between defenders of Mussolini’s legacy and anti-Fascists. The Jewish community and leftist members of Parliament strongly opposed the plan.