AN INTERVIEW WITH SÉBASTIEN FROM CASAPOUND

Here is an interview with Sébastien de Boëledieu who is the international spokesman for CasaPound. And I kept this interview in English as I thought it could interest a lot of people to read it.

1. Hallo Sébastien! Great to have you! Could you introduce your self and tell the readers what your occupation is in the organization you represent?

I have been a militant for Casapound for the last 7 years but I have been involved in politics since I was a teenager. For Casapound, I am responsible for the international relations.

2. How was CasaPound founded and how have it evolved from the start till the present day? How many members so you have, (it's understandable if you won't give any exact number)?

Casapound was born from the housing emergency. At the time, and even now as it is not solved yet, housing in Rome was getting really expensive due to corruption in the public housing programs and speculation of owners. The idea of occupying empty building aimed at giving a roof to Italian families and also to promote laws to help resolve this situation. Casapound was occupied [the first occupied house I assume (interviewer)] in 2003 but became a polical movement in 2008 as it's ideas spread all over Italy. Casapound is a movement not a party as it's actions are not restricted to the political field but can be found in social actions, sport, music, international missions... We also participated at various elections and obtained encouraging result knowing our radical positions and Italian political scene. We now have more than 5000 militants and more than 60 locals all over Italy.

3. CasaPound is known for occupations of buildings, somethings that is usually seen as a strategy used by the left. But CPI didn't let the reds have patent on this. How many buildings have you in control of now? According to the Swedish Metapedia article the information is from 2010 and says 57. To me is seems like you're building a state within the state, that which to me looks like a winning concept in Italy.

As I explained before we occupy buildings with a precise goal which is helping Italian families. It is one tool we use when it's necessary or possible. Most of our locals are rented and paid by our militants as we receive no help from the state, which is the  difference with most of left wing associations.

4. Social work seems like a very important part of your activities. How have these been greeted by common people that is not part of your movement?

We have a great reception from the people. In the years we proved we were able to run camps to help people after the Abruzzo and the Emilia Romania earthquakes. We also participate in humanitarian mission in Burma, Syria, Kosovo. Our militants get a fair amount of problem defending our people against clandestine immigration or defending families at risk of loosing their house. Of course we see the results having always more people following us, asking for our help or voting for us. In the last year, we had militants elected in city council and we tripled our voters in Rome.

5. Culture, like art, music and related stuff also seems to be central in your activities. How important are those things for your movement, and could you please tell the readers about what you do?

We are a mouvement in this way, we have a global vision of our society. Art, music, books are in this way really important fields that cannot be abandonned to others. They are also tools to get our message to the people, especially to the youngest ones.

6. Italy have had a very living nationalist movement in post-WW2 Europe compared to many other countries. And then for instance it's MSI that comes to mind that had quite good voting polls in the early 1970's. How do you think such things have affected the people's attitude in Italy until present day?

Italy inherited a glorious revolution led by Mussolini. The country in these years became a modern one and a lot of things dating from this period still work or can be visible, in architecture, infrastructure but also in the laws (public medicine) or celebrations. MSI maintained a living part of this heritage as we also do now, but keeping in mind that if the spirit is still alive we have to adapt or answers to the present time. The memory of fascism is still vivid in Italy and often for what fascism did well on contrary of what the so called left wing intellectuals try to make us believe.

7. Your student organization Blocco Studentesco is something here in Sweden that we only could dream of. That's because universities is probably the most infested places here by Cultural-Marxism. What do they do and what have they achieved? Why did you chose the lightning as a symbol any adherence to sir Oswald Mosley's ideas?

Blocco Studentesco has the ear of a lot of students because these militants are students and don't hesitate to challenge the marxist establishment. It is also a great school for militants that learn fast how to behave and be couragous. The circle is the community, the lighting is the force and the justice-symbol of Jupiter. Clearly it is also a reference to Mosley.

8. As previous mentioned you have a student organization. But you also have other organizations for various purposes. What do they do?

We have a lot of associations. From civil protection to humanitarian [aid], sport, mountain trekking, martial arts, office for legal and administration help, artists groups, music and tattoo studio. We have a hotline available 24/24.

9. One thing that catches the eyes at first glance at CPI is that you don't seem to be especially locked into a specific category like many others. You have created something own I would dare to say instead of being overtly nostalgic about the past nationalist movements. Instead it seems fresh and alive instead of some type of reenactment. How's your view on this?

Years ago a journalist who wanted to laugh at us wrote that we were "fascist of the third millenium". On the contrary we made this our description. We are fascist and proud of our heritage but we have to face different problems that the original fascist regime had  to solve. The spirit is there, the exemple of courageous ancestors that made this possible but it would be shameful to try to make a copycat. We are not nostalgic. Casapound militants have enough respect to not put Mussolini's face on lighters, wine bottles or underwears like you can sometime see. We don't wear uniforms that the historical fascists wore with their courage, not because we want to cut with them but for respect for their fight.

10. In 2011 representatives from you visited The Nordic Resistance Movement in Finland. NRM is a national socialist organization that to some degree have a similar strategy as you. But how is your view on other countries nationalist movements, is there any concern about the ideology etc?

We are European and we see our fight for the entire Europe. On the other hand, each country has it's political culture. We don't pretend to teach anything to anyone as our work is primarly in Italy. With this said we closely look at what is happening  elsewhere. It is my duty at Casapound, to host or visit comrades. We have close links with some groups like Alba Dorata or Hogar Social in Madrid.

11. You have also been active in foreign aid for example for the Karen people, and in support for the Assad regime in Syria. Can you tell about how this have been working and the reason for this?

We started with international help years ago defending and helping people that fight for their identity. It participate also of a logic that if we want to solve massive immigration we should look into a more global situation where countries like Syria are a guarantee of stability and that corruption and economic colonization should be expeled from Africa.

12. Is there much problem with the Italian regime that tries to silence and harass your members, and what about the violent part of the far-left in your country are they a big problem?

We have no public help. Our access to the media is really low except to contest us. Police represion is harsh and some of our militants risk heavy condemnation (some have already been sent to jail for more than a year). Clearly we face powerful ennemies and a strong police force that permanently monitoring us. It is the prize to pay for our efficency and being condemned for defending your country is surely not pleasant but it is also a source of pride. The left wing movement don't interest us. We defend ourself if needed. They are "Anti", we are the solution and we are not vanishing.

13. Different countries evolve differently because of underlying reasons imbedded historically, socially and culturally. Here in Sweden the extreme media climate have created a very strong alternative media. Probably one of the strongest in the world today because of this, and almost exclusively it's nationalistic. Is alternative media strong in Italy as well, and is this an important tool for you?

We run a radio, online newspapers and they are surely useful due to our lack of access to mainstream media. It is obviously a thing not to underestimate.

14. Have you been involved in any parliamentary work or is all focus on realpolitik?

We went twice in election by ourself which is really difficult in Italy considering that with the proportional vote parties must make alliances. We decided to run alone to not to have to endorse others views that could be contrary to our principles. In the last year, this strategy was encouraging as some of our militants got elected in average size cities. In Rome we tripled our votes and got really close to go elected. We had twice the amount of voters than the former regional president. Rome did not get build in one day!

15. If I might ask how the is official view on religion in CasaPound, if there are one? After all none can deny that it's probably one of the biggest questions of the era we live in. No matter if we like it or not.

Casapound is an Atheist movement. Some of our member are catholic by faith or tradition, some try to live by antique principles, some are purely atheist. We are all fascists.

16. Last, what is your wishes and goals for CasaPound, Italy and Europe as a whole? And I thank you very much for taking your time to ask all of these questions!

We fight to win and make Italy and Europe great again. I think it is obvious. Thank you for the interest!