Online abuse hits politician in the middle of cancer treatment
Roberta Vallacchi has been wearing a headscarf for months—following the attacks, representatives from several political parties have rallied behind the 61-year-old
Lodi – Following a barrage of insults on social media, Lombardy Regional Councilmember Roberta Vallacchi is receiving support far beyond her own party. The Democratic Party politician has been wearing a headscarf since January because she is undergoing cancer treatment and lost her hair as a result. It was precisely this that sparked anonymous attacks online.
The incident was triggered by a short video that Vallacchi posted at the start of the Festa dell’Unità in Lodi. It focused on women’s political participation and the 80th anniversary of the reform that allowed Italian women to vote for the first time in 1946. Derogatory comments subsequently flooded the comment sections. One user demanded that the politician remove her headscarf and called her appearance repulsive.
Vallacchi responded publicly and spoke openly about her illness. She explained that this was the second time she was battling cancer and that she would not be intimidated by anyone. She called the news alarming, but said it did not change her commitment. In her view, this form of aggression is specifically directed at women who publicly advocate for equality. At the same time, the many supportive reactions showed her just how much decency still exists in society.
The Democratic Party strongly condemned the attacks and made it clear that freedom of speech is not the same as the freedom to insult. The statement refers to a deep-rooted misogynistic attitude that becomes aggressive whenever women speak out. Several female colleagues from Lodigiano’s local political scene spoke out, including City Councilwoman Manuela Minojetti, who described the commenters’ behavior as shameful. The organizers of the party festival also directly confronted the authors.
Criticism also came from the center-right camp. Alessandro Sorte, a member of parliament from Forza Italia, said that treating a seriously ill woman in this way crossed a line. The Five Star Movement pointed to the anonymity behind which the authors of such messages regularly hide.
Vallacchi is considered one of the best-known figures in the center-left camp in the province of Lodi and serves as a representative of her party on the Lombardy Regional Council. The case is part of an ongoing debate about digital violence against female politicians. In recent years, those affected have repeatedly complained that attacks against women in public office are less often directed at their positions than at their appearance, age, or health.
