The rightwing League party held its
annual rally at its spiritual home of Pontida in northern Italy
Sunday with MEP and suspended army general Roberto Vannacci and
Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban among the stars.
Vannacci, a former paratrooper who became a bestselling writer
with his controversial book The World Upside Down, said 'I
didn't expect so much affection."
Activists shouted slogans for the League's pet policy of
'differentiated autonomy', which has been accused of worsening
the north-south gap in Italy, and chanted in defense of leader
Matteo Salvini, the deputy premier and transport minister, who
risks six years in prison on charges of kidnapping migrants at
Lampedusa as part of his controversial closed ports policy while
interior minister in 2018-19.
"Italy is not one only" and "hands off Salvini, defending
national borders is not a crime," were some of the slogans
displayed on banners and chanted by Leaguers.
There was a palpable sense of anticipation for Orban, while
Marine Le Pen, last year's star, sent a video message.
The Hungarian premier told an enthusiastic audience of Leaguers:
"We in Hungary celebrate Salvini as a hero because he closed the
borders and defended the homes of Italians.
"Indeed, he also defended Europe and deserves an honor and not a
judicial proceeding. The one underway is a disgrace".
Also featuring on stage were the other parties that,
led by Orban, have merged into the Patriots for Europe caucus,
distancing themselves not only from the centre-right European
People's Party, but above all from the Conservatives of Giorgia
Meloni: from the spokesperson of Vox of Spain, Jose Antonio
Fuster, to the ruling Dutchman Geert Widers, from the Portuguese
Andrè Ventura of Chega to the Austrian Marlene Svazek of the FPO
Freedom Party, which just won the elections in Vienna.
Wilders told a wildly cheering crowd from the stage: "Today is
the time to make a new oath in Pontida: all European patriots
will stand by their leader Matteo Salvini. No one will stop us,
they tried to stop me in the Netherlands but they failed and I
am stronger than ever. They tried to stop Salvini but they will
not succeed, he will be stronger than ever".
Then he added that "patriotism is a virtue and Salvini is a
virtuous man" for the battle against "the tsunami of mass
illegal immigration that makes us foreigners in our own home".
And addressing directly the secretary of the League who was
listening to him near the stage, Wilders added: "Matteo,
everyone who is here loves you. When you are in court you will
be our hero. We are with you, that's why we are here long live
Matteo Salvini, go your own way, follow your path, we will never
abandon you, you will never be alone".
Fuster, the Vox spokesman, also drew loud applause when he said,
in Italian:
"European patriots look here, to the Pontida meadow, as a
renewed example of resistance and hope in times of ferocious
enemies." Fuster also joked at the beginning of his speech about
his physical resemblance to Salvini.
"Many confuse me with the 'Captain' but for him you will have to
wait a little longer," he said.
"We have won and we will win but only if we stay together," he
added and concluded: "On behalf of the Spanish people, I say to
you: Forward without fear of anything or anyone."
Svazek, also speaking in Italian, said: "Is this the Europe we
want? A Europe that betrays and abandons its own culture and
identity? Nooo, I would like to tell the story of a strong
Europe, with its roots and capable of making clear decisions
like Matteo Salvini did, putting the security of his country
above the party and defending the values ;;of Europe".
Ventura, of Portugal's Chega, told the crowd: "Matteo Salvini is
persecuted because he continues to believe that this country
must be protected. We all must defend it" and "we need more
Salvinis, throughout Europe".
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