Italy’s first African-American minister, Cecile Kyenge, is once again the target of racial slurs by Italy’s Northern League political party. The Senate Vice President of the Northern League, Roberto Calderoli, compared the looks of Kyenge to an orangutan at a party meeting in Treviglio Saturday.
"I love animals... but when I see pictures of Kyenge, I cannot help thinking of similarities with an orangutan," Calderoli said, according to Fox News. Enrico Letta, Prime Minister of Italy, called this language unacceptable.
Two lawmakers from the Democratic Party, which is the party Kyenge is a part of, insisted that Calderoli resigns from his position.
This is not the first time that 57-year-old Calderoli has made inappropriate comments. He is infamous for his rude and controversial comments and actions, and was even forced to briefly resign from the government in 2006.
The Guardian reports that Congo-born Kyenge has faced many racial slurs, offensive comments, and acts of hostility, especially from the Northern League, after being appointed minister by Letta in April.
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