Italy: Thousands attend anti- and pro-migration rallies in Rome
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the Italian capital for rival protests. The rallies took place after a proposed bill seeking measures against migrants
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the Italian capital for rival protests. The rallies took place after a proposed bill seeking measures against migrants secured enough support to be brought before parliament. Tens of thousands of people on Saturday filled the streets of Italy's capital Rome for rival anti- and pro-migration rallies. Several thousand demonstrators from around Italy turned out for the right-wing, anti-migration march. Why were the right-wing demonstrators marching in Rome? The march was held after a citizens' initiative bill named "Remigration and Reconquest," which wants to impose sweeping measures against immigrants, gathered the 50,000 signatures needed for it to be brought to Parliament. Many demonstrators raised their arms in the fascist salute and shouted "Duce" — a reference to Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator who ruled Italy from 1922 until his ouster in 1943.
The anti-migrant march was organized by the far-right 'Remigration and Reconquest' movement Image: Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu Agency/IMAGO The term "remigration" has been used by far-right groups across Europe in recent years as part of calls to curb immigration and reduce the number of foreign migrants, including through deportation. What do we know about the counter-demonstration in favor of migration? On the other side of Rome, tens of thousands of people from several left-wing groups and trade unions joined a rival, pro-migration rally. Thousands of police were deployed "to facilitate the spaces of freedom and freedom of expression," said Rome's police commissioner, Roberto Massucci. No violence was reported. Anti-fascist groups held a counter-march to reject what they called a 'xenophobic ideology' Image: Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/IMAGO The debate on migration has become a political balancing act for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition.
Although the right-wing populist and anti-migration Lega ("League") party has welcomed the debate raised by the "remigration" bill, Meloni's Brothers of Italy and its centrist coalition partners are more cautious. Critics of the citizens' initiative cite concerns over the bill's legality, arguing it discriminates against people based on their ethnic background and therefore violates Italy's constitution and EU law. Meloni's government has actually sought to expand legal migration since coming to power, in a bid to tackle labor shortages in a range of crucial sectors. From 2023 to 2025, Italy allowed 452,000 non-EU workers to enter the country. The rival marches in Rome came a day after the European Union introduced new rules on how its member states deal with irregular migration and asylum seekers.
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