Rome (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Thousands of Italians rallied in Rome’s city center Saturday, waving blue European Union flags in a sign of solidarity and unity as a European push for rearmament divides the country.
The campaign, backed by most of the center-left opposition groups, despite their different positions, was initiated by Italian journalist Michele Serra at the end of February, with an editorial in the Italian daily La Repubblica titled: “Let’s say something European.”
I wanted to organize a large demonstration of citizens supporting Europe, its unity and its freedom, with no party flags, only European flags,
Serra stated, launching the slogan: “Here we make Europe, or we die.”
In response to President Donald Trump’s destabilizing policies, which formed an unprecedented rift between Europe and the U.S., tensions have risen over the war in Ukraine and an ongoing tariff battle.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has reluctantly endorsed an European Union plan to rearm Europe over situations that the proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen might burden Italy’s giant debt, slowing much-needed funds to weapons spending.
The EU plan seeks to generate around 800 billion euros over the next four years, the majority of which will come from member nations improving their national spending on defense and security.
Why is Giorgia Meloni hesitant about EU rearmament?
Internally, Meloni openly condemned the project, abandoning the term “rearm” as misleading and urged European partners to concentrate instead on common defense and security.
Organizers said that the rally, which filled Rome’s central Piazza del Popolo with around 30,000 people, reunited Italians on different flanks and voting for opposite parties “in the name of democracy.”
We are here to defend freedom and democracy,
stated Daniela Condotto, a protester.
These are concepts that we got used to over 80 years, but in reality they need to be defended, we cannot take them as a given.
Right-wing government groups overlooked the demonstration, standing behind Meloni, who has been laboring in her attempt to play a mediating position between Trump and the EU.
There must be support for Europe, but with concrete reforms, not symbolic events,
stated Antonio Tajani, foreign minister and vice premier ahead of Saturday’s rally. Vice Premier Matteo Salvini, head of the eurosceptic League’s party, was openly critical.
While some people demonstrate with flags, we work to change this Europe, which crushes workers, farmers and entrepreneurs with its absurd rules,
he said.
