ROME, ITALY - APRIL 5, 2025: Tens of thousands of Italians protested the "rearmament plan" in Rome, Saturday, Apr. 5, which was announced by the European Union last month. A large number of people marched from the Vittorio Emanuele Square to Fori Imperiali Street in response to a call by the opposition party Five Star Movement (M5S). During the march, demonstrators protested the plan chanting "no to rearmament" and carrying a banner that read “No to spending billions of euros on weapons.” A pro-Palestinian group participating in the protest also held a banner that read “Stop (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu” and waved Palestinian flags as they chanted “Stop the genocide.” Speaking at the rally held at the end of the march, M5S leader and former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said, “Today, a loud and clear ‘no’ is being voiced against the waste of 800 billion euros for Europe’s rearmament — it’s madness.” Conte said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni approved Europe’s rearmament plan without obtaining any authorization from parliament, stating, “This is yet another failure of the government that will go down in history.” He emphasized that at the heart of the alternative they are building today is a “no” to militarization and a “yes” to allocating resources for healthcare and education. Conte also chanted slogans with the protesters, including “No to rearmament.” According to M5S sources, more than 80,000 people participated in the march against the EU’s rearmament plan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had stated on March 4 that Europe must take greater responsibility for its security, and announced that the EU’s rearmament plan could mobilize around 800 billion euros in defense spending.