Analysis: Rome mayor’s anti-migrant stance signals a shift to the right for the Five Star Movement

22 June, 2017 | Filed under: All News,more news,Opinion,RECENT POSTS,Somali news | Posted by:

“We can’t afford new arrivals,” she argued in a letter sent to Italy’s Ministry of Interior on June 15th. “Rome’s reception capacity is on its knees,” she continued, adding that new arrivals would have “devastating social costs”. According to the Italian interior minister, Marco Minniti, new arrivals in Rome are in line with agreed quotas.

This was not Raggi’s view only six months ago, when she spoke in early December at an event hosted by the Roman

Analysis: Rome mayor's anti-migrant stance signals a shift to the right for the Five Star Movement
Raggi pictured earlier this week. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Catholic Church to showcase positive responses to refugees in European cities. Raggi, who is from Beppe Grillo’s Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) or Five Star Movement, praised the role that cities such as Rome and Barcelona have in welcoming refugees and celebrated the contributions newcomers bring to society. In a post on her Facebook page at the time she added:

We as mayors and our cities face the effects of large immigration inflows. It is our duty to guarantee dignity, shelter and human warmth to newcomers. Negative attitudes and closure offend our human dignity.

So what has happened in the last six months? There are two main explanations for why Raggi’s view has changed. The first has to do with Italian party politics; the second is related to the situation for migrants and refugees in Italy and how it has evolved in the last few years.

Source:Thelocal.it