Thousands of supporters of the right-wing Northern League party flooded the streets of Rome on Saturday, slamming the government of Matteo Renzi. A rival rally took place at the same time, with organizers calling the League's views “racist.”
Speaking at the Northern League's rally, party leader Matteo Salvini accused the government of blindly fulfilling orders given in Brussels. The protest was held at Piazza del Popolo.
"The problem isn't Renzi; Renzi is a pawn, Renzi is a dumb slave at the disposal of some nameless person who wants to control all our lives from Brussels," Salvini said.
The rally was held under the slogan 'Renzi a casa' (“Renzi go home”). According to Salvini, it is ordinary people who suffer from the current government’s policies and the ones of the European Union. The politician especially stressed the situation surrounding Italian truck drivers who have lost their jobs.
#Salvini#renziacasa: tra le guardie e i ladri, noi stiamo con le guardie! E #iostoconstacchio e con Antonio Monella! pic.twitter.com/AEs8jgrgxd
— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) 28 февраля 2015
"Europe is what's allowing our truck drivers to be squeezed out by Romanian contracts, Romanian wages and pensions that can be used to come and work in Italy because that's what Europe wants – a race to the bottom," Salvini said.
READ MORE: Pros and cons: Milan protesters confront anti-immigration rally
The politician also blamed banks and the Italian business
establishment for the current crisis and economic problems.
“I want to change Italy so the economy is able to get back on
track,” Salvini said, as quoted by Euronews. “This is
currently being prevented by Brussels and crazy European
policies.”
The Northern League's tough anti-immigration position suggests
deportation of illegal immigrants. The leader of the party says
that limited and controlled immigration is positive, but
immigration through the rescue of migrants in the Mediterranean
is a disaster.
Oltre a bandiere di Lega e CasaPound, a piazza del Popolo sventolano anche vessilli del genere #MaiConSalvinipic.twitter.com/CsYUp11xe8
— Leonardo Bianchi (@captblicero) 28 февраля 2015
Numerous left wing activists call those views “racist.” Opponents of the Northern League from several organizations and Roman social centers held a simultaneous rally, protesting against the League's ideas.
Over 35,000 in Euronews estimates joined the march with banners reading “Never with Salvini!” and “Rome doesn’t want you.”
No incidents were registered at the rallies, according to the Corriere della Sera.
Oggi a #Roma gli unici clandestini sono i fascioleghisti #maiconsalvinipic.twitter.com/hzvTw5l8be
— Manolo Luppichini (@manolo_loop) 28 февраля 2015
The Northern League, or 'Lega del Nord' in Italian, is a regionalist political party which aims to leave the eurozone, change the policy of austerity, and control immigration. Over the last five years, the party has gained popularity and become one of the largest parties in the north of the country. However, the ruling center-left Democratic Party is still supported by the majority of the population. New regional elections are to be held this spring.