Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Araghchi to Grossi: These parties will bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions
Araghchi to Grossi: Iran will respond to any unlawful action by European countries or parties attempting to turn the Agency into a tool for achieving their objectives
Araghchi to Grossi: We urge the Agency to warn against the consequences of any political move against Iran
Araghchi to Grossi: We call on the Agency to highlight Iran’s full cooperation during the upcoming Board of Governors meeting next week
Araghchi to Grossi: We demand that the Agency reflect the facts in a manner that prevents certain parties from exploiting it to advance their political agendas
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holds a phone call with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi
Trump envoy Witkoff has sent 'detailed and acceptable proposal' to Iran for nuclear deal; it's in their best interest to accept it: White House Press Secretary Leavitt
Hamas official says Witkoff's position toward group was 'unfair' and shows 'complete bias' to 'Israel'
Hamas official says it has considered Witkoff's proposal acceptable for negotiations, says 'Israel's' response was incompatible with what the group agreed on
Hamas official says group has not rejected Wikoff's proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Italy's new far-right thrives on anti-immigrant discourse

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Sep 2022 08:35
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

As September 25 elections near, competing opponents lead the polls with rhetoric circulating around banning immigrants from seeking asylum in Italy.

  • x
  • Political party leaders Matteo Salvini and Giorgia Meloni (Bloomberg)
    Political party leaders Matteo Salvini and Giorgia Meloni (Bloomberg)

As part of Italy's new far-right direction in its campaign for the September 25 election, Giorgia Meloni, the Brothers of Italy leader, which has neo-fascist roots, and the League's Matteo Salvini have joined forces to demonstrate their "Italians First" nationalist agenda that vows to end mass migration into the country as a key aspect of their campaign.

The island of Lampedusa was Salvini's first destination on Sunday, which happens to be the landing point for tens of thousands of migrants each year from North Africa, where he stated that Lampedusa could not become "Europe's refugee camp," adding, "Only those with permission should enter Italy."

Meloni, on the other hand, explained that she differentiates between people fleeing conflict and persecution and those who are unusual economic migrants. Last month, however, she came under fire after she reposted a video of a woman being raped, allegedly by an asylum seeker in an unidentified Italian town, but the post was later removed for violating rules on social media. 

Maurizio Ambrosini, a sociologist at Milan University, commented, "Unfortunately our political debate associates immigrants with landings... creating the idea of huge flows... while the actual number of immigrants has been stable for a decade in Italy," but according to a YouGov survey last December across Europe, 77% of the population say immigration levels are "too high" which is 10 points above the EU average. 

The fear of a rise in crime rates was the biggest motive behind the popular belief among the Italians, as this was cited by some 53% of those surveyed, increasing to 76% of the Brothers of Italy voters and 67% of the League voters.

Related News

Italian PM Meloni’s new citizenship rules anger Italian-Americans

Meloni opposes EU tariffs on US, rejects troop deployment to Ukraine

As opposed to that, Ambrosini iterates that the center-left Democratic Party "see immigrants as a resource for the Italian economy," but that they face difficulty explaining this to their voters "because it is an unpopular subject, and it is easier to have a debate about exclusion and hostility, which are immediately understandable."

'Make Italians pay less tax' 

According to official figures, Italy could face a loss of 20% of its population due to the declining birth rates and mass aging of the population, so migrants can be considered a potential lifeline.

The ISTAT national statistics agency's report last year warned of the "consequences (of this trend) for the labor market," which is already reliant on immigrants for low-skilled jobs in agriculture, construction, home help, and hospitality, and "the pressure the country will have to face" to finance and equip its health systems and its pensions. 

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, this reliance was exposed when agricultural producers conducted plans to transport seasonal workers from Romania and Morocco for fieldwork. One grower in northern Italy, Martin Foradori Hofstatter, told AFP, "In theory, I could have found workers here in Italy but now Italians do not want to work in the fields or the vineyards."

Approximately 2.5 million legal immigrants account for more than 10% of Italy's workforce.

On Sunday, Salvini put his two cents regarding a solution for that, "We don't need migrants to repopulate villages. Let's make Italians pay less tax and you'll see how they repopulate these small places."

But Ambrosini cautioned, "Complex themes... don't lend themselves to simple election campaign slogans."

  • Giorgia Meloni
  • Lampedusa
  • Italy
  • Matteo Salvini
  • Far-Right

Most Read

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS