Mussolini's granddaughter on hunger strike

Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of Italy’s Fascist dictator, started a hunger strike today in protest at a court decision blocking her right-wing party from running in next month’s regional elections.

Mussolini, who filed an appeal before an administrative court in Rome, said she would fast until the appeals ruling is issued.

The decision should be made by Friday.

The hunger strike is meant “to gather public attention and attention of the media to something that we would describe as a coup d’etat, a real illegal seizing of the power,” Mussolini said.

The flamboyant blonde installed herself in a van outside the Rome court building where she submitted her appeal and she says she will wait there until the verdict.

“I will be here night and day,” she said.

On Saturday, a court ruled that a list submitted by Mussolini’s small party, Social Alternative, for elections included almost 900 phoney or irregular signatures.

They included fake signatures of actors, judges and a general.

If the court’s decision is upheld, Mussolini, who wants to run for governor in the Lazio region, will not be able to stand in the April.

She is currently a member of the European Parliament.