Vannacci and his AI videos: the political meme as a weapon in Italy

Vannacci and his AI videos: the political meme as a weapon in Italy

What happens when an Italian general becomes the star of AI-generated videos attacking feminists, LGTBI groups, immigrants and even euthanasia? The answer is a viral phenomenon mixing propaganda, satire and a video-game aesthetic, which has placed General Roberto Vannacci at the centre of Italy's political debate.

The phenomenon of Vannacci's AI memes

Over the past weeks, a series of AI-generated videos have been circulating on social media in which Vannacci appears as an action hero, smashing walls with his fist, scolding women watching reality shows or confronting mixed-race couples. The clips, posted by accounts such as @Terra Cava 2, have gone viral and sparked a wave of comments, both supportive and mocking. Some users point out that the videos have obvious technical flaws, such as glitches on the phone, but that has not stopped them from spreading massively.

The aesthetic is that of a video game or anime, and in fact a supposed Japanese animated series about the general, the #VannacciWave, has even been mentioned, which according to some would air on Crunchyroll. All of this has turned Vannacci into an icon of the Italian far right, with a reach that goes beyond traditional media.

The ideological basis: the Futuro Nancy manifesto

Beyond the memes, serious analysis focuses on the document published by Le Grand Continent, which reproduces and comments on the Ideological and Programmatic Base (B.I.P.) of Futuro Nancy, the movement founded by Vannacci for the 2027-2037 period. The text is more systematic than the media controversy suggests, and proposes a "vital right" based on identity, birth rates, authority, sovereignty and economic initiative. Vannacci criticises globalisation, multiculturalism, European supranationality and cultural pogre, and advocates a nation understood as ethnicity, family and blood.

The document also includes references to the mixed economy, which some interpret as a nod to historical fascism, and to the Church's social doctrine. However, Le Grand Continent points out significant gaps and inconsistencies, such as the lack of a clear plan for leaving the euro, something its critics do not overlook.

The Kali Yuga as a backdrop

The thread that gave rise to this analysis mentions the Hindu concept of Kali Yuga, the dark age of degeneration, as an interpretive framework. For some, Vannacci would be the only one with a grounded vision who understands that only the destruction of what exists can regenerate the nation. Others, however, see this rhetoric as mere posturing, and point out that the general has not explained how he intends to carry out his programme, beyond grandiose phrases.

The irony is that, meanwhile, the AI videos keep multiplying, and the debate shifts from content to packaging. Is Vannacci a real danger or just another product of political spectacle? The answer probably lies somewhere in between, but the fact is that the meme has become a political communication weapon that no traditional party knows how to counter.

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While analysts debate the solidity of his programme, Vannacci keeps gaining trinc on social media. Perhaps the Kali Yuga is nothing more than an excuse to sell smoke, but smoke, when generated with AI, spreads fast.