An image of two young women photobombing a selfie taken by far right Italian leader Matteo Salvini by kissing has been hailed after it was widely disseminated on social media.
The photo was taken in Caltanissetta in Sicily where Mr Salvini was attending a rally in support of a fellow member of ruling League party's bid for mayor.
Mr Salvini, Italy’s interior minister and the leader of the League, sparked outrage for going to Oscar Aiello’s mayoral bid rather than attending memorials for Italy’s liberation from Nazi occupation. He has repeatedly criticised the event in the past – branding it “a derby between fascists and communists”.
Mr Salvini was taking a selfie with supporters when two female students kissed in protest at his controversial decision to attend an anti-LGBT+ and anti-abortion conference with the self-avowed goal of establishing the “natural family order” in Verona in March.
The US-founded World Congress of Families (WCF), which has faced criticism for its Russian ties, staged the three-day conference in the ordinarily quiet northern Italian city to discuss “the beauty of marriage” and “growth and demographic decline”.
The 13th international conference of the WCF – which saw tens of thousands of campaigners descend on the streets of Verona – was funded by the local authority and is backed by the League Party. In October, Mr Salvini said he was proud Verona was hosting the WCF, adding: “This is the kind of Europe we like.”
The photo, which was taken by one of the girls called Gaia, was initially shared on her Instagram on Thursday with the ironic caption “Hello friend”. Mr Salvini was tagged in the post.
The viral image was widely shared after Italian activist Marco Furfaro posted it on Facebook alongside the caption: “Caltanissetta protesters. Love beats hate 3-0. Trolling Salvini to the extreme. You rock Gaia and Matilde.”
The hashtag #GaiaeMatilde – the names of the two young women in the photo – has gained traction on Twitter.
Gaia can be seen appearing to attempt to take another photo kissing her friend after taking the first one but a security agent appears to swiftly place their hand in the way in order to separate the two young women.
“The hand of another friend that divides,” says the caption of an image which can be seen on her Instagram Stories.
Mr Salvini has been mocked in the wake of the image – with an influx of memes poking fun at the expression on his face. Others have hailed the women’s “brave” and “glorious” protest.
“When the minister urged those present to take the stage and take a selfie with him, we had this idea because he participated in World Congress of Families as a minister,” Gaia, who has only been identified by her first name, told Euronews.
“We made a provocative instinctive gesture, not at all premeditated. On stage, Salvini did not expect us to take a picture like this. When we kissed, an agent I think, separated us sharply and Salvini then told us ‘I wish you luck’ so we took off thanking him ironically.”
Campaigners argue women’s rights are being rolled back under Mr Salvini and traditional stereotypes about the role of women are also worsening.
The political leader was fiercely criticised after neither he nor any Minister from the League chose to attend national celebrations which sees Italy mark the liberation from fascism on 25 April each year.
Last week, Italian media documented neo-fascist demonstrations, desecrations of memorials of participants of the Italian resistance against fascism, and drawings of swastikas across the country. Some 30 people held a banner reading “Honour to Benito Mussolini” while performing fascist salutes in Milan.
A day later, a garland commemorating a partisan who fought fascism in WW2 was burned down in Milan. Other memorials were desecrated across the country.
The League, which supports far right and anti-immigration policies, formed a government coalition with the Five Star Movement in June 2018, after it won about 17 per cent of the vote in a general election. It now has some 35 per cent according to recent polls.
