Roberto Vannacci condemns to death Conte, Schlein and Prodi, the video is shocking in the style of "Gladiator": it's a storm

A controversial AI-generated video has sparked outrage in Italy, featuring Roberto Vannacci, a former general and leader of the right-wing party Futuro Nazionale, presiding over a fictional Roman arena where he condemns several prominent Italian politicians to death. The clip, shared on social media accounts associated with Vannacci, shows him dressed in imperial Roman attire, declaring the deaths of Giuseppe Conte, Elly Schlein, Romano Prodi, and Laura Boldrini, figures representing both historical and contemporary left-wing leadership. Accompanying Vannacci in the video are digital likenesses of current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Senate President Ignazio La Russa, who appear alongside him in the scene. The video, styled after the movie Gladiator, has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents and raised concerns about its implications for public discourse. The video depicts Vannacci as an emperor-like figure overseeing a grim ceremony in a Roman-style arena. The politicians depicted are shown bound to ropes, symbolizing their impending execution. According to the footage, Vannacci uses a gesture reminiscent of ancient Roman judgment, raising his thumb downward, to condemn them all to death. His dialogue includes the phrase, “With sickle and hammer, those who have never used them,” suggesting a critique of leftist values. The clip further features Giuseppe Barboni, a local businessman from Vannacci’s hometown of San Benedetto del Tronto, who recently faced legal issues following an altercation. In the video, Barboni appears to wield the tools of execution after dropping a piece of ice cream, adding to the surreal nature of the scene. Political leaders from the center-left have expressed deep concern over the video's content and its potential impact on public sentiment. Giuseppe Conte, the former prime minister and current leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S), criticized Vannacci for using the imagery of ancient Rome to justify violence against political adversaries. He questioned whether this marked the beginning of a new era of political rhetoric rooted in historical militarism and rigid social hierarchies. Conte described the video as a troubling reflection of Vannacci’s sense of honor and institutional sensitivity, particularly given his long career in government and the military. Chiara Braga, the head of the Democratic Party (PD) group in the Chamber of Deputies, condemned the video as a serious threat to democratic principles. She emphasized that invoking the death of political opponents was not merely provocative but constituted an unacceptable incitement to hatred. Braga noted the presence of Meloni and La Russa in the video, stating that such images required immediate condemnation from those in positions of power or responsibility. She called upon officials to distance themselves from messages that could legitimize political violence. The video quickly gained traction online, drawing tens of thousands of views within hours of being posted. Its release coincided with heightened political tensions in Italy, where debates over national identity, governance, and the role of historical symbolism in modern politics remain contentious. Critics argue that the use of AI to create such content blurs the lines between satire, propaganda, and genuine calls for violence, potentially influencing public perception in unpredictable ways. Authorities have yet to formally respond to the video, though some observers speculate that the incident could lead to increased scrutiny of how political figures use emerging technologies to shape narratives. Meanwhile, the controversy underscores broader anxieties about the intersection of digital innovation and traditional forms of political expression. As discussions continue, the focus remains on whether such content will be treated as a harmless spectacle or as a dangerous precedent in the evolving landscape of political communication.