Virginia Libero sparks debate with anti-war speech in Reggio Emilia

Virginia Libero, the 28-year-old national secretary of the Giovani Democratici (Young Democrats), has sparked intense political debate following her speech at the Festa dell'Unità in Reggio Emilia. Libero stated, “We will not be the soldiers of your wars. If these rights-wing parties lead us to a real conflict, you go to arms. Because we will organize the deserters.”

During her address, Libero criticized the diversion of funds toward rearmament, arguing that such spending comes at the expense of social rights, healthcare, housing, and education. She also addressed the political labels used by the right to describe younger generations and emphasized that for her, patriotism means repudiating war and ensuring dignified wages and social security.

The speech has drawn mixed reactions within the Democratic Party (PD). While some figures, such as Laura Boldrini, defended the remarks as a clear and radical voice for peace, other reformist members have distanced themselves from the comments. Libero concluded her speech by expressing support for PD leader Elly Schlein and asserting that young people will no longer be mere spectators in political discussions.