One Nation drops Victorian candidate over Hitler praise and antisemitic posts

Consensus Summary

One Nation Victoria has disendorsed its candidate for the seat of Preston, Franco Guardiani, after he described Adolf Hitler as the 'GOAT' in a social media post. The party acted swiftly upon discovering the comment, with leader Warren Pickering condemning the remarks as unacceptable, particularly amid rising antisemitism. Guardiani’s account also contained other controversial posts, including antisemitic and Islamophobic statements, which further prompted his removal. This is the second time in recent weeks that One Nation has dropped a candidate over offensive online behavior, following the dismissal of its Melbourne candidate earlier this month.

Guardiani’s social media activity predates his candidacy, with ABC reporting he previously ran for federal office in 2013 and 2016 under different parties. His posts included conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial, and support for far-right figures, such as his defense of Sean Black, who was convicted of rape in 2018. The Guardian highlights his engagement with extremist groups like Knights Templar International and his history of Islamophobic rhetoric, including calls to destroy mosques. Both outlets agree his comments were discovered during the vetting process for the upcoming November 28 state election, though the exact timeline of when the party became aware of them differs slightly.

Warren Pickering, One Nation’s Victorian leader, emphasized the party’s commitment to distancing itself from such views, stating that anyone holding them 'does not have a place in One Nation.' Guardiani, for his part, defended his right to free speech, arguing that people should be able to question historical narratives. ABC notes that Labor has held Preston since 1945, making this election a potential tight contest, while the Liberal Party has signaled it will preference One Nation ahead of other minor parties. The party has also acknowledged flaws in its candidate screening, though the Guardian suggests these improvements may not have been sufficient to catch Guardiani’s history.

While both articles agree on the core facts—Guardiani’s removal, his controversial posts, and the party’s response—they differ in emphasis. ABC focuses on the broader context of his political history, including his past candidacies and specific tweets, while the Guardian highlights his engagement with extremist networks and the party’s vetting failures. Neither source contradicts the other on key details, but the Guardian’s framing leans more toward systemic issues within One Nation’s candidate selection process, whereas ABC provides additional background on Guardiani’s political career and recent election dynamics.

The immediate aftermath of Guardiani’s disendorsement leaves questions about One Nation’s ability to maintain consistency in its candidate vetting. ABC reports that early voting for the November 28 election opened on November 18, suggesting the party’s internal crisis could still impact the campaign. The Guardian does not speculate on future consequences but notes that Guardiani is no longer listed as a candidate on the party’s official website. With the election approaching, the party’s handling of this situation may influence voter perceptions, particularly given its recent preference deal with the Liberal Party, as outlined by ABC.