Some 50,000 people, including intellectuals, artists and mayors from all over Italy, They concentrated this Saturday in the Plaza del Popolo in Rome to reaffirm the foundational values of the European Union and relaunch the unity before a moment considered critical for the institution.
The manifestation “A place for Europe” He was born from a public call launched by the journalist and writer Michele Serra in the pages of the newspaper La Repubblica, who proposed a great non -partisan meeting to reaffirm the foundational values of the European Union of Democracy and Peace, inviting citizens, local administrators, unions and civic movements to join under the blue flag with the stars.
In the Plaza del Popolo in Rome Thousands of citizens congregated, with European flags in their handsin a demonstration that was attended by several Italian mayors and the one that The councilor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, who accepted the invitation of his approval in Rome also cameRoberto Gualtieri.
“We are 50,000 real people. It was a demonstration of peace and democracy. Thanks to each and every one of you. We are European citizens,” said Serra the demonstration, which was considered a success by the organizers.
Collboni was invited to the box to speak and assured: “We, the mayors, are willing to make our partto support Ukraine, to face the challenges of the economy. Europe is not an abstract bureaucracy. “Citizens of Europe, let’s join!”
The demonstration was backed by the presence by some political leaders, such as the secretary of the greatest opposition formation, the Democratic Party (PD), Elly Schlein, or the action leader, Carlo Calenda, and the Secretary of the Italian left, Nicola Fratoianni, as well as members of Italy Viva and of Europe, while no party of the majority of centrodecheres appeared among the promoters.
For the first time in a long time, the three great union confederations (CGIL, CISL and UIL) also supported the initiative.
In the square, transverse criticisms were heard on the latest current issues, such as European rearme, and Serra himself already said that different visions on the common European defense will emerge: “Some will express a pacifist position with peace symbols, while others will reiterate their support for Ukraine with the colors of their flag.”
“We are many. We are many because we are a towna word that in recent years has been eliminated from democracy, although it is the most democratic of words, ” Said Serra From the box of Popolo Square.
And he added: “Europe is not an abstract concept. It is salvation. Let’s remember when we reject migrants. And let’s remember when we think that the resistance of the Ukrainians is just a nuisance that prevents us from resting in peace, “added the journalist.
Artists, actors, singers and intellectuals paraded through the box and there was no space for politicians.
Antonio Scurati, author of the successful books about the dictator Benito Mussolini, said: “Rejecting war does not mean feeling helpless. We are not people who sweep the cities to the foundations. We do not massacrus civilians or deport children to use them as a rescue. I spent years informing about fascism and wars, this taught me that fighting is different from war, being against war does not mean.”
Not all Italian forces seconded the demonstration
The adhesions were mainly from the opposition forces, with the exception of the leader of the 5 -star movement, Giuseppe Conte, who criticized the event for his alleged ambiguity on the issue of rearme.
In another Plaza de Rome, Piazza Barberini, the Power for the people and other movements linked to the extreme left demonstrated “against the Belicist and European Plaza Dear by Michele Serra” and burned European flags.
