Raffaele Fitto is a former minister in the government of Giorgia Meloni who now occupies a strategic position at the European Commission. In this capacity, it manages a major portfolio linked to economic and social cohesion, representing almost a third of the total budget of the European Union for the period 2021-2027.
It is in this context that he is expected tomorrow at UCampus Charleroi. A visit which is part of a European tour aimed at highlighting projects financed by the Union.
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Show Europe through its projects
For the regional authorities, this visit is above all institutional. Adrien Dolimont fully assumes the arrival of the commissioner:
« It is as a European commissioner that he will come, in charge of European and social cohesion. This is an opportunity to show Europe the projects it has financed. It would be a mistake to put the region at odds. And then, Italy remains a democratic partner state. »
On the organizational side, the campus management evokes a classic official visit, at the request of the commission as part of a European tour and carried out in collaboration with the Walloon Region. According to her, there was no reason to refuse to welcome a European representative, especially from subsidizing powers.
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Same position or almost on the City side. Mayor Thomas Dermine specifies:
« As mayor, I will welcome him but I will not bow down. Whatever my political beliefs, I will fulfill my role to welcome a member of the European Commission. »
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A protest that is being organized
But this coming is far from unanimous. In trade union, academic and associative circles, several voices are being raised to denounce what they consider to be a trivialization of the extreme right.
For Fabrice Eeklaer, federal secretary of the CSC Sambre et Meuse: “ A few years ago, an entire government could turn its back on another far-right government, as in Austria. Here, a red line is crossed. »
Same concern for Élodie Verlinden, professor and administrator of the Charleroi Lay Action Center: “ We thought it was an April 1st joke, but it was not. A far-right political leader was indeed invited to our university campus. »
The mobilization is also reaching students. Erwann, enrolled in human and social sciences, denounces: “ It would be a big mistake to roll out the red carpet for him in a school. We simply say no to the far right. »
An announced mobilization
Faced with this visit, an open letter is circulating online calling for protests against the reception of the European commissioner. Several anti-fascist rallies are also announced tomorrow at midday, notably in front of the University of Labor.
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