Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Rome on Saturday in a major protest organised by the Five Star Movement (M5S) against the European Union’s proposed defence spending increases.
Organisers claimed turnout surpassed 80,000, with some estimates nearing 100,000, echoing a similar demonstration last month outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The rally reflects growing Italian scepticism towards militarisation, with recent polls showing the country’s residents among the EU’s least supportive of higher defence budgets. Giuseppe Conte, M5S leader and former prime minister, delivered a fiery condemnation of both the EU initiative and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s endorsement.
Conte commented on the protests in Rome on X, thanking all the demonstrators for participating.
With this popular, grassroots, humble and generous push we can really change things. I promise you my utmost commitment.
He also labelled the defence plan as “madness” and accused the government of acting without democratic approval.
The protest drew support beyond M5S, with representatives from the Democratic Party and the Green-Left Alliance joining the demonstration. Their collective stance appears to align with broader public discontent, as a Euractiv poll revealed that Italians are significantly more resistant to increased military expenditure than many of their European counterparts.
However, the protest faced political pushback. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani dismissed M5S’s stance as hypocritical, noting that defence spending rose during Conte’s own premiership.
