“No more money for weapons.” Conte and M5s in Strasbourg against Rearm Europe

Brussels – As the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg aimed to discuss Ukraine and European defense and security, the Five Star Movement (M5s) wants to make itself heard and reiterate  its categorical rejection of any European rearmament project. This morning (March 11), 50 Five Star Movement deputies, senators, and their leader Giuseppe Conte gathered in front of the Parliament building waving a banner declaring, “No more money for weapons.” In the past few days, the former premier mobilized public opinion on social media to oppose the Rearm EU Plan, which he called “absolutely wrong, devoid of any political but also military rationality.”

“A completely politically deficient Europe has embraced the military strategy convinced it can beat Russia on an armed conflict level,” Conte said yesterday in a video  on the train en route to Strasbourg. He then lashed out at 27 member states’ decisions at the end of the March 6 EU Council. “Our European rulers have chosen acquiescence, subservience to Washington.” Instead of increasing defense spending, Conte called for member states to “pool the spending already planned by individual states by pulling out a common initiative,” alluding to a unified command or a common foreign policy. The delegation then went to Parliament to follow the Ukraine and European defense debate.

M5s MEP Danilo Della Valle intervened in the Chamber and, after a tirade against the 800 billion plan for continental defense, he placed a European flag sewn with the peace flag on the empty bench previously occupied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “The president will be remembered for betraying values and democracy. Europe without peace is dead. That is why I leave the European flag sewn with the flag of peace on the benches of the Commission. So that we never forget.” The Five Star Movement delegation then participated in the gesture by sporting manifestos that read, “No to rearmament,” “No more weapons,” and “More work, less weapons.”

In a press point on the sidelines of the plenary, the former premier then reiterated the importance of security through negotiations and investment in health, education, and human capital: “The terror one has of Putin can be dealt with by sitting in Ryad, the balance must be built with a new Helsinki.” He then called a joke the proposal of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to rename the Rearm EU plan to Defend EU: “It puts us in a war economy.” Regarding the proposals of Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, who at the Ecofin called for supporting defense without making new debt by tapping private capital, Giuseppe Conte called them “nothing concrete,” stressing that “a sector like defense does not lend itself to private investment.” According to the 5-Star Movement, Europe should respond to the Russian threat with fewer weapons and more negotiations.