3rd Mussolini descendant enters Italian political arena

A third descendant of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini is entering the political arena.

Caio Giulio Cesare Mussolini — Mussolini’s great-grandson, whose name is taken from one of ancient Rome’s most famous rulers — is running as a candidate in European elections for the far-right Brothers of Italy Party.

Party leader Giorgia Meloni announced Mussolini’s candidature over the weekend. His political ambitions follow that of his second cousins, Alessandra Mussolini, an EU parliamentarian for Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party, and Rachele Mussolini, a Rome city council member.

Meloni said that protests against the latest Mussolini political debut led Facebook to cancel his profile. Caio Mussolini said Tuesday that his profile had been restored, with apologies.

Benito Mussolini was Italy’s dictator for two decades until his summary execution in 1945.