Europe's far-right gets together ahead of vote

Far-right parties from across Europe gathered in Italy on Saturday, pledging to limit immigration to the continent and reject a potential second term for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The parties convened in Rome, energized by polls indicating nationalist and far-right movements are poised to make significant progress in European Parliament elections in June.

Despite a shared stance on tightening immigration policies, some divisions emerged within Europe's far-right coalition, reported Reuters news agency.

The gathering of the Identity and Democracy grouping featured representatives from Italy's League, France's Rassemblement National, or RN, Austria's Freedom Party, or FPO, Portugal's Chega, and Belgium's Vlaams Belang.

"A country that does not defend its borders, a European Union ...that does not defend its borders commits murder against its people," said Italy's League leader Matteo Salvini.

Salvini is deputy prime minister in Italy's government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, but she has been excluded from the ID group.

Despite being the sixth-largest group in the EU assembly, ID is projected to climb to fourth place, according to recent polls. Meloni's Brothers of Italy party is affiliated with the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, or ECR.

While ECR stands firmly in support of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, positions on the issue within the ID group remain ambiguous.

Salvini, once an outspoken admirer of Russia's President Vladimir Putin, criticized "warmongers "such as France's President Emmanuel Macron, blaming them for the challenges Europe faces, especially after France initiated discussions on European countries sending troops to Ukraine.

Addressing the rally through a video link, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen suggested Meloni might endorse Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as EU Commission president.

"Giorgia... will you support a second von der Leyen term or not? I believe so. And so you will contribute to worsening the policies that the people of Europe are suffering from so much," she said.

Last December, ID held a comparable meeting in Florence, Italy, but on this occasion, one of its significant members, the Alternative for Germany party, which is facing racism allegations at home, was excluded.

Several senior League figures, including the governors of wealthy regions of northern Italy, did not attend the gathering in the capital city, said Reuters.

It said their absence emphasizes discontent within the party, which is now polling below 9 percent after reaching a record 34 percent in the 2019 European Union elections.