Far-right parties unite to challenge EU establishment in upcoming elections

Europe's far-right leaders kicked off their EU-wide election campaign at a rally in Florence, Italy, hosted by the hardline Identity and Democracy (ID) group. Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's right-wing Lega party, called for a Europe without socialists and aimed to make ID the third-largest group in the European Parliament. The speakers criticized the EU's Green Deal, illegal migration, and political correctness, but were divided on the war in Ukraine. The rally was met with left-wing protests, and tensions arose between rival nationalist groups.