[1] Almirante was chosen as leader of the new party in part because of his low profile, as the higher-ranking members of the fascist regime involved in the MSI opted instead to take on behind the scenes roles.

[7] He had intimated his support for the Europe a nation ideas prevalent at the time but failed to convince the party to take a position against De Marsanich's pro-NATO policy.

[8] During the mid-1950s Almirante, disquieted by the drift towards conservatism under De Marsanich and his successor Arturo Michelini, resigned his position on the National Council to become a critic of the leadership.

On this basis he aimed to attract more conservative elements to the MSI, while simultaneously passing reforms that strengthened the power of the party secretary in order to pre-empt opposition from the radical tendency with which he had been associated.

[11] He also sought to 'historicise' fascism and dropped the more overt references to the ideology from MSI propaganda and rhetoric, notably shelving the black shirt and the Roman salute.

[15] However, the policy floundered as the MSI made few inroads into Christian Democrat support and instead pushed the mainstream right towards an accommodation with the Italian Communist Party.

[16] On 18 June 1973 around noon, on his way back from a political rally, Almirante with three party comrades stopped at a Motta restaurant (now Autogrill) on A1 motorway Cantagallo rest area, in Casalecchio di Reno near Bologna, near where the Marzabotto massacre had occurred less than 29 years ago.

When a waiter recognized him, the restaurant staff called their union, and declaring themselves anti-fascists, they went on a strike, refusing to serve Almirante, or anyone else until he left, forcing him to leave.

A Bologna-based leftist musical group "Canzoniere delle lame" released the single "All'armi... siam digiuni... (al Cantagallo)", the proceeds were used to pay the staff's legal fees.