Thousands of people took part in Milan on Saturday in the “Masters in Our Own Home” demonstration, organised by the League and the Patriots for Europe group. Before reaching Piazza Duomo, around two thousand people marched through the city centre, led by a tractor in support of “Made in Italy” and by League mayors wearing the tricolour sash.
On stage, League leader and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini opened his speech by recalling Giacomo Bongiorni, who was beaten to death by two young men in Massa: “As a community, we must apologise to you, because you cannot die simply for reminding someone of good manners,” the deputy prime minister said, also paying tribute to the League’s founder Umberto Bossi, who died on 19 March.
Salvini then paid tribute to Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in the recent elections in Hungary. “You have defended the borders and fought against traffickers in people and weapons; let us continue together this battle for freedom and the rule of law,” Salvini said.
Remigration and a points-based residence permit
On migration policy, Salvini set out a vision based on the concept of “remigration” and a new merit-based system of citizenship. The League leader said that **”**remigration does not mean sending away everyone you meet in the street, but that the residence permit and citizenship are an act of trust. We guarantee you benefits and free healthcare, but if you make mistakes, as with the points-based driving licence, there will also be a points-based residence permit: after a number of mistakes you go back to your own country”.
The League leader and deputy prime minister also reiterated his intention to prioritise migration flows that are culturally close: “We want to prioritise immigration from countries that are close to us in culture and values, to ensure genuine integration and not the chaos that serves the globalist left to pay workers less in factories”.
Salvini against the idea of an energy lockdown
He then turned to a scathing criticism of the European Union’s economic management. Salvini rejected the prospect of new energy lockdowns and called for “the suspension of the Stability Pact rules and the possibility of using Italians’ money to help Italians in difficulty”, also urging an end to sanctions on Russian gas.
Describing “the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund, run by Martians, as a malevolent duo”, the deputy prime minister pointed to the United States as an example for the resumption of energy trade with Moscow, concluding, “If they do it in Washington, they must do it in Brussels as well”.
He also referred to the defeat of the justice referendum, **”**A family that wins or loses picks itself up and grows together. After the victory of the No side in the referendum, we are even more united, strong and determined to work together, without fear of speeding up the reforms that Italians need,” Salvini said, stressing that the governing majority remains solid.
The Patriots rally around Salvini
Many European leaders belonging to Patriots for Europe took to the stage, reinforcing the message of defending national borders. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš stressed that “the Patriots represent a Europe in which borders are protected”.
Harsh words also came from Party for Freedom founder Geert Wilders, who condemned the assault and sexual violence against two young Dutch people in Milan on Friday evening by two migrants, declaring, “We must stop immigration from Islamic countries, enough, not even one; they are criminals who want to follow sharia law.”
The international delegation was completed by France’s Jordan Bardella, Spain’s Santiago Abascal and Austria’s Udo Landbauer. Looking ahead to the French presidential elections, Bardella said that “a victory for the National Rally in France will not only be a French victory, but a victory for all the nations of Europe”.
Vox leader Abascal criticised Spain’s Sánchez government for the mass regularisation of migrants, adding, **”**This is why it is important that we Patriots remain united, protecting our borders as Matteo Salvini and the Italian government have done”.
Landbauer, of Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ), voiced concern for the continent’s cultural identity, describing the current situation as a threat to “the Europe that we all love, which is now in danger”.
Thousands against the Patriots’ rally: clashes with police reported
In parallel with the Patriots’ gathering, Milan was the scene of high tensions during protest marches by antagonists and social centres. Around five thousand demonstrators marched chanting “fascists out of Milan”, trying to break through the police cordon in Via Borgogna to reach Piazza Duomo.
Officers responded by using water cannon to contain the throwing of firecrackers, smoke bombs and bottles. After the clashes, the march by Antifa collectives moved towards Piazza Medaglie d’Oro, while protesters denounced the presence of the Patriots in the heart of the city.