Thousands march in Rome in rival anti- and pro-migration rallies

Tens of thousands of people marched in Rome on Saturday in rival anti- and pro-migration demonstrations, following a far-right initiative's success in gathering enough signatures to bring its proposals to Parliament.

The petition by the initiative, named “Remigration and Reconquest,” has met the 50,000-signature threshold required for parliamentary discussion. The proposal, backed by right-wing groups, advocates for stringent measures against foreigners, including forced returns and incentives to depart Italy, which critics contend could infringe upon the rights of legal residents and violate anti-discrimination laws.

Several thousand demonstrators participated in the anti-migration march, with some displaying fascist salutes and referencing Benito Mussolini. Concurrently, a separate pro-migration demonstration drew tens of thousands, organized by left-wing groups and trade unions.

Thousands of police were deployed to ensure the separation of the rival groups, and no violence was reported. The demonstrations occurred a day after new European Union rules governing irregular migration and asylum seekers came into effect across the bloc's 27 member states.

The debate over migration presents a complex challenge for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition. While some parties support the parliamentary discussion of the 'remigration' proposal, others, including Meloni's own party, have expressed caution due to its association with extremist elements and potential legal ramifications. This comes as Meloni's government also works to expand legal migration pathways to address labor shortages.