A celebration of the Romanian community at the center of a political dispute in Italy / Criticism over the absence of the opposition and accusations of the event’s political use

A political conflict broke out in Cesena, Italy, following an event dedicated to the city’s Romanian community. Carmelina Labruzzo, responsible for social services, criticized the absence of opposition representatives from the event, which she presented as an opportunity for dialogue and closer ties between the Romanian community and Italian society.

The statements prompted reactions from the League and the Fratelli d’Italia party. The two political groups accused Labruzzo of using the event to promote her own image and criticize her political opponents.

Fratelli d’Italia claimed that none of its councilors had been invited to the event. The party called for relations with the Romanian community to be based on dialogue and respect and stated that members of foreign communities should not be treated as “vote banks.”

For its part, the League said it appreciated the contribution of the Romanian Orthodox community and raised the issue of the role of knowledge of the Italian language in the integration process. The party’s representatives emphasized its importance for access to services, professional integration, and understanding legislation.

In the same statement, the League also referred to the risk of radicalization among young people from second- and third-generation backgrounds. This claim was made in the context of the party’s arguments regarding integration, without the information presented indicating a connection with the event or with members of the Romanian community in Cesena.