Alessandra Mussolini (born 30 December 1962) is a conservative Italian politician, the granddaughter of Benito Mussolini, and previously an actress and model. She is the leader and founder of the national conservative political party Social Action; From 2004 until 2008, Mussolini also served as Member of the European Parliament.

There is politics and political bickerings in the air over Lido now hosting the 66th Venice Film Festival. Two leading politicians were livid when they found out the Romanian movie, “Francesca”, by Bobby Paunescu screening out of competition had unkind things to say about parliamentarian Alessandra Mussolini (the granddaughter of former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini) and Verona mayor Flavio Tosi — both known for their strong anti-immigrant stand.

One of the characters in the film calls Alessandra “a bitch that wants to kill Romanians," and Tosi is called a "shitty mayor."

The two leaders want the offending phrases removed, and Mussolini has threatened to sue the movie’s producers and block its distribution in Italy.

However, Paunescu said that he would not edit out those phrases, which were based on public comments that Mussolini and Tosi had made."These two have said some very serious things on television," he said. "The film is not based on fiction."

Romanians, who form the largest single immigrant community in Italy, share an uneasy relationship with the locals. The Italians often link them to the rising crime rate. In recent times, the ruling government coalition, which includes both Mussolini and Tosi, has made it difficult for Romanians to come into Italy and take up residence.

In another development, Michael Moore, whose “Capitalism: A Love Story” is competing in the Festival and is a devastating critique of the system as it exists in the U.S., made fun of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at a Press conference. In a jocular fashion Moore criticized Berlusconi for some of his policies and adventures.

More also lambasted the compassionless capitalism in his country and analysed how corporate America was devastating the lives of ordinary citizens. Moore’s work makes a strong plea for a new kind of socialism that can come about through a popular revolt against the evils of free market enterprise.