Italian politician paints his face black as he rails against immigration (VIDEO)
Gianluca Buonanno, a Northern League MP, uses a pad to apply black makeup during an anti-immigration rant in Italy’s parliament on Jan. 16, 2014. He asked if Italians need to get a “bit darker” to benefit like immigrants do in Italy.
Gianluca Buonanno, an Italian politician, resorted to painting his face black during an anti-immigration rant late Wednesday in parliament.
A member of the Northern League, he opted for theatrics to drive home a point about immigrants benefiting from Italian social programs.
“Too much money” goes to immigrants as Italy does “nothing for our own citizens,” he said, according to The Telegraph. “To get money, perhaps we all need to make ourselves darker.”
Buonanno and the Northern League Party occupy the far-right on the political spectrum, and are no stranger to controversy.
More from GlobalPost: Bananas thrown at Italy’s first black cabinet minister
He also accused the ruling coalition government of “reverse racism.”
The party’s target of late has been Italy’s first black minister, Cecile Kyenge, the Congolese-born minister for integration.
Just days before Buonanno’s stunt, the Northern League’s Massimo Bitonci said Kyenge wants to “favor negritude.”
Northern League politicians have also compared her to an orangutan, and someone threw bananas at her during a public appearance.
They’ve also drawn criticism for publishing times and locations of Kyenge’s schedule.
More from GlobalPost: Italian senator Roberto Calderoli compares black minister to orangutan
The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.
Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.