Salvini calls the first act of Patriots for Europe after Orbán’s defeat amid a strong counter-demonstration

The police cordoned off the entrances to separate those attending a leftist counter-demonstration.

According to official figures from the organizers, thousands of people attended the event, carrying flags of Italy, Spain, France and Hungary.

The historic center of the city was divided into two watertight sectors. Thousands of right-wing supporters gathered at 3:00 p.m. on the esplanade of the Duomo to listen to their leaders.

A few meters away, in Porta Ticinese, anti-fascist and left-wing groups were demonstrating under the slogan “Milan is not yours.”

The protesters launched firecrackers, glass bottles and smoke bombs against the agents.

The police response was immediate: the State Police vans used water cannons to disperse the most violent groups.

Amidst the smoke and noise, the protesters chanted loudly: “Fascists out of Milan!”.

Salvini as host

Matteo Salvinihost of the event, opened the rally by making direct reference to the disturbances that could be heard in the background: “If the left-wing groups believe that their shouts are going to stop the will of the European peoples, they don’t understand anything.”

The leader of the Lega focused his speech on citizen security and border control, using the presence of the counterprotesters as an example of what he called “intolerance of old politics“.

Police armor

More than 1,500 personnel of the State Police and the Local Police of Milan cordoned off the entrances to the center to avoid direct contact between both groups.

The tension was constant throughout the afternoon. In the counter-demonstration block, attendees denounced what they consider a “provocation” by the sovereigntist leaders in a city historically linked to the values ​​of the Resistance.

Left-wing protesters symbolically burned posters with Matteo Salvini’s face and criticized the coalition’s immigration management.

Vox’s participation

The delegation of Voxled by its main figures in the European Parliament, played a leading role in reinforcing the bloc’s message of unity.

The Spanish representatives stressed that Orbán’s defeat in Hungary does not weaken the principles of the coalition, but rather makes cooperation between national parties more necessary in the face of Brussels policies.

During its interventions, Vox focused on energy sovereignty and legal certainty, insisting that Spain continues to be a fundamental pillar for the future of Patriots for Europe.