The neo-fascists benefitted, because the Christian Democrats were divided, while the city was one of its fiefdoms, and the Italian Communist Party (PCI) supported the suppression of the riots.

[8] In 1972, Franco was investigated for distributing leaflets hostile to the anti-fascist demonstration organized by the left-wing trade unions in the city of Reggio Calabria on October 22, 1972.

He initially was convicted to four years but never served his sentence; the appeal never took place due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

[1] His models were South European leaders like Francisco Franco, António de Oliveira Salazar and those of the Greek junta, he told journalist Fallaci in 1971.

[11] Franco was re-elected for four subsequent terms, serving in the Senate from 1972 until his death in 1991, as a member of the Italian Social Movement.