Thousands March in Rome Over Migration Debate as New EU Rules Take Effect
Tens of thousands of people participated in both anti- and pro-migration demonstrations in Rome on Saturday, following a far-right citizens' initiative named "Remigration and Reconquest" that gathered enough signatures to trigger parliamentary discussion. The anti-migration march saw participants performing fascist salutes and chanting "Duce! Duce!" while a separate pro-migration event drew a similar crowd. These demonstrations occurred one day after new European Union rules governing irregular migration and asylum seekers came into effect across the bloc.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Rome on Saturday for separate demonstrations concerning migration policies. The protests took place after a citizens' initiative, "Remigration and Reconquest," successfully collected 50,000 signatures, thereby qualifying for parliamentary discussion. This initiative aims for extensive measures against foreigners, including forced returns, incentives for people to leave Italy, and policies that critics suggest could impact legal residents.
Several thousand individuals from across Italy joined the anti-migration march, where many were observed giving the fascist salute and shouting "Duce! Duce!," a reference to historical Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. No date has been set for a parliamentary vote on the proposal.
Separately, another demonstration, characterized as pro-migration, also drew tens of thousands of participants to a different part of Rome on Saturday evening. This march included various left-wing groups and trade unions, with some individuals displaying Palestinian flags.
Thousands of police officers were deployed to maintain separation between the rival groups, and no incidents of violence were reported.
Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition faces a delicate balance regarding the migration debate. While the anti-migration League has supported opening discussions on the proposal, Meloni's Brothers of Italy party and its centrist allies have expressed caution. Concerns include the proposal's links to extremist circles, potential legal risks, and internal divisions within the coalition. Critics, including opposition parties and legal experts, argue that the proposal could violate constitutional and international anti-discrimination principles by targeting individuals based on ethnic background, including naturalized citizens.
These demonstrations coincided with the implementation of a new set of European Union regulations governing how the bloc's 27 member states will manage irregular migration and asylum seekers. The European Migration and Asylum Pact represents the outcome of several years of negotiations aimed at overhauling the previous system.
Meloni's government is also pursuing a parallel policy to expand legal migration, having approved a multiyear plan to admit hundreds of thousands of non-EU workers to address labor shortages in key economic sectors.
(Source: Fortune)
