Italian politicians harshly criticized former PM Silvio Berlusconi, who praised Benito Mussolini on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.  

Events devoted to Jewish Holocaust were held Sunday in Milan, where Berlusconi stated that Italy bears no historical responsibility for the Holocaust, Pravda.ru reports.

He announced that Mussolini is to be blamed for the class laws of fascist Italy, but the Duce was “very good” on the other issues, Reuters informs.  

As per the former PM, at the time Italy preferred to become an ally of the Nazis and, within the framework of this alliance, official Rome was simply forced to fight against the Jews and to eradicate them, rbc reports.

Leader of the Italy of Values party stated that Berlusconi is a caricature of Mussolini, Gazeta.ru informs.