Italy's premier Meloni reacts to protest during Marcinelle memorial

During the memorial for the mining disaster in Marcinelle on Saturday, Walloon trade union members turned their backs on Italian Senate President Ignazio Benito La Russa. The action took place during a ceremony honoring the victims of the mining disaster in 1956. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her disapproval of this union action, calling it a 'shameful gesture.'

Meloni's outrage stems from the protest by union members, which resulted in a visible rejection of La Russa while he was speaking. La Russa is also a member of the far-right party Fratelli d'Italia, like Meloni, which makes the situation particularly sensitive for her. Charleroi police confiscated banners and flyers from antifascist activists earlier that morning at the Bois du Cazier site where the memorial was held.

Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot (MR) expressed his regret over the trade union protest. He made this statement to VTM NIEUWS. Prévot emphasized that the memorial should be an occasion to honor the victims of the disaster, and that such actions do not contribute positively to the solemnity of the event.

The memorial was intended to commemorate the victims of the mining disaster in Marcinelle, where more than 250 people lost their lives. However, the incidents that occurred during the ceremony have led to tensions between the Italian and Belgian parties involved. This is not the first time there has been dissent regarding the presence of Italian politicians at events related to the disaster.

Meloni's negative reaction to the union action has also garnered attention in Italy, where the memory of the mining disaster remains a significant topic in the discussion about working conditions and the role of unions. The significance of the memorial is now overshadowed by the political controversy that has arisen from this protest action.

The situation raises questions about the impact of political disagreements on commemorative events. The actions of the union members and Meloni's response illustrate the current tensions and the charged political context in which such memorials take place.