Conservative leaders from Europe participated in a rally in Milan on Saturday, April 19th, to protest against irregular immigration and Brussels bureaucracy. The meeting was the first since Viktor Orban's electoral defeat in Hungary.
The demonstration was organized by the group Patriots for EuropeThe event took place in front of the Milan Cathedral and was separated by a strong police presence from a mobilization of thousands of members of left-wing movements. The third largest bloc in the European Parliament.
The event organizer was Matteo Salvini, leader of the League and deputy prime minister of Italy in Giorgia Meloni's coalition governmentSalvini considered the Duomo, which he defined as a "symbol of Christianity," the ideal location for the event announced with the motto “Without Fear – in Europe Masters in our Own Home!”.
Jordan Bardella from France and Geert Wilders from the Netherlands participated in the event, invited by Salvini.
Wilders told supporters: “Today, the tragedy we predicted has become a reality. Our people, the original inhabitants of Europe, have been hit by a tsunami of mass immigration, mostly illegal immigration from Islamic countries.”
Orban's defeat and the electoral landscape
The event in Milan took place days after Viktor Orban, one of the co-founders of Patriots for Europe, was defeated at the polls after 16 years in power. The victory went to the pro-European Union opponent Peter Magyar.
In his speech, Salvini quoted Orban and declared: “Dear Viktor, you defended the borders and fought human and arms traffickers. Let us all continue this fight together, for freedom and the rule of law.”
Before the election in Hungary, Marine Le Pen, president of the French National Rally party, went to Budapest in support of Orban. On that occasion, she stated that 2027 would be an "absolutely crucial" year for conservatives.
According to her, important elections in France, Italy, Spain, and Poland could give future conservative winners "the means to radically change the course of the European Union from within."
At the rally this Saturday, Bardella told supporters: “I came to Milan to reassure you: our victory in the next presidential election is within our reach. And we are preparing to say goodbye to Macron.”
Criticisms of the European Union
In line with Meloni, the League argues that the European Union should relax budget deficit rules because of the energy crisis caused by the war in the Middle East.
Before the event, Bardella told reporters: “We will address all the issues affecting European societies, in particular the issue of immigration and the ever-increasing regulations imposed by the European Commission and the European Union on European industry and the economies of the eurozone.”
The event also included farmers on tractors, protesting against free trade agreements, and motorcyclists opposed to traffic restrictions. They started a short march from east of Milan to the Duomo.
FOLLOW-US
