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"We will organize the deserters." The speech by Virginia Libero, leader of the Young Democrats, bounced from the stage at the Festa dell'Unità to social media and became a political issue. The 28-year-old's positions sparked debate due to her message, which revolved primarily around the war and Italy's stance on foreign policy.
Essentially, this is one of the central arguments for the broad camp that—between the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement—is seeking a common line. "We will not be the soldiers in your wars. If these right-wing groups lead us into a real conflict, you take up arms. Because we will organize the deserters," Libero says in his speech. "Because for us, talking about homeland means repudiating war, it means giving everyone a living wage, guaranteeing healthcare.
It means that no one in our country should feel alone, to the point of losing all hope. To achieve all this, we need to make courageous political choices. And the left must have this courage. I have hope because I know that Elly Schlein truly believes these things. And then we won't be bystanders and we'll get there without asking permission.
By your side, Elena,” he says, addressing the secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein.
Several Democratic Party representatives have spoken out in favor of Libero. "The speech given by Virginia Libero, national secretary of the Young Democrats, at the National Unity Festival in Reggio Emilia was clear, radical, and unequivocal. She gave voice to generations of young people who reject war and are willing to fight for peace," says MP Laura Boldrini. "These words offer hope for the future in a world that, unfortunately, is racing toward rearmament, where wars have once again become the tool for resolving conflicts between countries, and international law is being trampled upon. We must thank young women like Virginia for their commitment and the determination with which they look toward a future without conflict," she adds.
"I see many are attacking Virginia Libero, the secretary of the Young Democrats. So I want to put on record that I was in Reggio Emilia and listened to her much-criticized speech there... and I applauded heartily. And I also remember that our Constitution, so often cited these days to attack Virginia, also contains the beautiful Article 11 that repudiates war," says Matteo Orfini. "To those who attack the secretary of the Young Democrats for simply explaining that there's a generation that doesn't want to live in a world in flames, I'll simply say that the fact that there are girls and boys who continue to dream of peace is one of the few things that gives us hope," he adds.
"We can only thank Virginia Libero for giving voice back to a generation of young men and women who believe that peace is a political process and must be organized. This is a breath of fresh air for those who theorize that Europe must adopt a war mentality," wrote Democratic Party MP Arturo Scotto on social media.
There's no shortage of critical positions. "'We will organize deserters,'" the secretary of the Young Democrats insists. "That's not what the young people who chose to join the Resistance did, or the young Americans who came here to fight (and many died) to free us from the Nazis and Fascists—and whom we rightly celebrate every April 25th," writes Giorgio Gori. "That's not what the Constitution demands of us, which in Article 52 states: 'The defense of the homeland is a sacred duty of the citizen,'" says Giorgio Gori. "'Organizing deserters' is a repugnant concept. I've respected conscientious objectors ever since I've been reading and writing. I respect those who have chosen nonviolence and will never pick up a weapon, but I heartily thank those who fought to free us from the Nazis and Fascists. All peoples have the same right," echoes Sandra Zampa.
"Article 11 merely repudiates war for the lazy who can't read beyond the fifth word. As for the "very young" Democratic Party, well beyond the dream, it announces desertion while already today our people are opposing every aggression on the eastern flank of the European Union," comments Arturo Parisi, one of the founders of the Democratic Party.
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