Party: Cash for Mussolini baby names

POTENZA, Italy, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- An Italian political party is offering $1,940 to parents in five cities who name children after World War II-era dictator Benito Mussolini or his wife Rachele.

The far-right Movimento Sociale-Fiamma Tricolore, or Italian Social Movement, said residents of five municipalities in the sparsely populated Potenza province will be eligible for the cash aid provided they name children born in 2009 either Benito or Rachele after the fascist leader and his wife, ANSA reported Monday.

The small political party said the parents must also promise to use the money on cribs, clothes, food or other necessary items for their infants.

Vicenzo Mancusi, the regional head of the party, said the new program "does not resolve the problem of the region's declining population, but it is a small attempt by a small party."

He said the choice of Benito and Rachele as the names for the program was "purely casual. They're nice names."