The hard-right League in Italy is making waves with its latest proposal to remove the European Union flag from public offices. In a bid to strengthen its eurosceptic stance ahead of the EU parliamentary elections next month, the League is pushing for a change in the law to only display the Italian national flag and regional banners.
League leader Matteo Salvini, who has seen a decline in electoral support in recent years, is hoping to attract eurosceptic voters by reviving a radical platform. Senator Claudio Borghi, a staunch eurosceptic and European election candidate, is spearheading the effort to overturn the 1998 law that mandates the EU flag be flown at public offices, calling it “nonsense.”
The League is part of the Identity and Democracy (ID) group at the EU parliament, which includes other right-wing parties like France’s Rassemblement National and Germany’s Alternative for Germany. Despite being the sixth largest group in the EU assembly, recent polls suggest ID is gaining ground and could move up to fourth place.
With the League’s current polling at around 9%, Salvini is looking to boost support by nominating controversial figures like army general Roberto Vannacci as a candidate. Vannacci’s book, which sparked outrage for its disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ community, migrants, minorities, and feminists, has stirred up further controversy within the party.
As the EU parliamentary elections draw near, the League’s bold move to remove the EU flag from public offices is sure to ignite debate and capture the attention of voters across Italy.