The European Parliament has approved by secret ballot the launch of an internal investigation into the political group Europe of Sovereign Nations, which includes among others Alternative für Deutschland and Futuro Nazionale. Roberto Vannacci, a former general and member of the group, criticized the decision calling it a political vote, expressed appreciation for Marine Le Pen arguing that democracy had been restored in France, and raised doubts about the appropriateness of EU enlargement to Ukraine. According to la Repubblica, the vote exposed a rift among Italian forces in Strasbourg: Fratelli d'Italia and Lega reportedly sided against the investigation, while Forza Italia voted in favor alongside left-wing forces, causing a divergence between Vannacci and the Berlusconian party. The same outlet also reports that following Vannacci's criticism a reply was issued associating him with those who deny the Holocaust within the group. The specific contents of the investigation are still being defined.