Tens of Thousands March in Rome as 50,000-Signature Migration Petition Reaches Parliament
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 13
Tens of Thousands March in Rome as 50,000-Signature Migration Petition Reaches Parliament
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 13
Summary
Tens of thousands rallied in Rome on Saturday in rival anti- and pro-migration marches after a far-right petition won the 50,000 signatures needed to force parliamentary debate.
The “Remigration and Reconquest” initiative calls for coercive returns, incentives for migrants to leave Italy and broader measures critics say could also hit legal residents.
Several thousand anti-migration demonstrators sang the national anthem and some gave fascist salutes while chanting “Duce”; a separate evening counterprotest drew tens of thousands backed by left-wing groups and trade unions.
Thousands of police kept the two camps apart and no violence was reported, but the issue exposes strains inside Giorgia Meloni’s coalition, with the League more supportive than Brothers of Italy and centrist allies.
The marches came a day after the EU’s 27-state Migration and Asylum Pact took effect, even as Meloni’s government is also expanding legal entry for hundreds of thousands of non-EU workers.
Can Italy import needed workers while a far-right movement demands to send foreigners home?
Will Italy's internal migration battle derail the EU's brand-new asylum pact across the continent?
With a new far-right rival on the rise, is Prime Minister Meloni’s power starting to crack?
Deepening Divides: The Impact of the “Remigration and Reconquest” Petition and June 2026 Rome Protests on Italian Migration Policy
Overview
On June 13, 2026, Rome became the center of intense ideological clashes as anti-fascist groups marched to oppose both far-right movements and the government's migration policies. Their banners and slogans clearly rejected the concept of 'remigration,' a controversial idea promoted by the extreme right and central to the 'Remigration and Reconquest' petition. This petition marks a new level of organization among far-right groups, amplifying the national debate over migration. The strong public demonstrations and explicit opposition highlight deep divisions in Italian society, as the struggle over migration policy and national identity continues to intensify.