Europe’s far-right leaders gather in Italy

Far-right leaders from across Europe convened in Italy to show support for Italian politician Matteo Salvini, who faces a potential six-year prison sentence for refusing to allow migrants to disembark.

• Key attendees: The meeting included Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Dutch Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders, Portuguese Chega leader Andre Ventura, and Jose Antonio Fuster, a spokesperson for the Spanish party Vox.
• Support for Salvini: The leaders expressed solidarity with Salvini, head of the League party, who is currently on trial for his actions as Interior Minister in 2019.
• Orban’s bold statement: Orban stated, “We should not withdraw from Brussels; we must occupy it! We will take back Brussels from the bureaucrats and return it to the people of Europe,” highlighting a call to action against E.U. institutions.

Salvini’s speech:

In his address, Salvini emphasized that those defending national borders are the ones truly on trial. He said, “You can arrest a person for protecting national borders, but you cannot arrest an entire people. This represents the sacred alliance of European peoples born here in Pontida. I will not back down for you or for our children.”

• Orban’s comments on migration: Orban praised Salvini as a hero for his efforts to close Italy’s borders, asserting, “If irregular migration continues in Europe, we will transport migrants from Budapest to Brussels and place them in front of E.U. offices.”
• Ventura’s Appeal: Ventura stressed the need for more leaders like Salvini, stating, “Salvini suffers for believing in the protection of this country. We must all defend him.”

Reactions and messages

Participants at the rally displayed banners reading, “Hands off Salvini; protecting national borders is not a crime,” and frequently chanted in support of their leader.

The number of #migrants in Hungary is zero. We will not surrender our country, we will not allow them to change our culture. #Hungary is our home, and we want to feel at home in it. #Pontida24 #StopMigration pic.twitter.com/Cy5jDsYzcZ

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) October 7, 2024

• Orban’s social media post: Orban shared photos from the event on social media, highlighting the successes of far-right parties across Europe. He remarked, “We are strengthening the Patriots party in Europe and moving toward uniting the right. We will not stop until we reclaim Europe’s political power.”

This rally highlights the growing influence of far-right sentiments across Europe and marks a significant moment for nationalist leaders seeking to reshape the continent’s political landscape by targeting E.U. institutions.