Thousands march in Rome in anti- and pro-migration rallies

ROME (AP) — Tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of the Italian capital in anti- and pro- migration demonstrations Saturday, after a far-right citizens’ initiative seeking sweeping measures against migrants garnered enough support to be brought to Parliament.

A petition by the initiative, named “Remigration and Reconquest,” gathered the 50,000 signatures needed to trigger parliamentary discussion, pushing the once-fringe concept of “remigration” into the political mainstream. No date has been scheduled yet for a vote.

The proposal, promoted by right-wing groups, calls for sweeping measures targeting foreigners, including coercive returns, incentives to leave Italy and broader policies critics say could extend to legal residents.

Several thousand demonstrators from around Italy gathered for the anti-migration march, singing the national anthem. On several occasions, many of them raised their arms in the fascist salute, shouting “Duce! Duce!," a reference to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943.

A rival, pro-migration demonstration saw tens of thousands of people take to the streets in another part of Rome Saturday evening. That march was attended by various left-wing groups and trade unions, with some demonstrators waving Palestinian flags.

Thousands of police were deployed to ensure the two rival groups would remain apart. No violence was reported.

The debate on migration represents a delicate balancing act for Premier Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition. While the anti-migration League has backed opening discussion, Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and centrist allies have been more cautious about endorsing a proposal linked to extremist circles, amid concerns over legal risks and internal divisions.

Critics, including opposition parties and legal experts, argue the proposal would violate constitutional and international anti-discrimination principles by targeting people based on ethnic background, including naturalized citizens and their descendants.

The controversy comes even as Meloni’s government pursues a parallel policy of expanding legal migration, having approved a multiyear plan to admit hundreds of thousands of non-EU workers to address labor shortages in key economic sectors.

The demonstrations in Rome a day after a new set of European Union rules came into effect governing how each of the bloc's 27 member states will deal with irregular migration and asylum seekers.

The European Migration and Asylum Pact is the culmination of years of grueling negotiations that overhauled the previous system, which was widely considered a failure and gave far-right parties a potent issue to win votes.

Demonstrators shout slogans as they gather during a protest organized by right-wing groups, calling for the repatriation of migrants, in Rome, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Demonstrators shout slogans as they gather during a protest organized by right-wing groups, calling for the repatriation of migrants, in Rome, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Demonstrators light flares during a march in Rome, Saturday, June 13, 2026, to protest Italy's security and migration package, including a migrant "repatriation bonus" scheme criticized by opposition parties and legal groups as unconstitutional and ethically problematic. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

People hold a banner in Italian reading "Skin and sweat have the same color, no deportation' during a march in Rome, Saturday, June 13, 2026, to protest Italy's security and migration package, including a migrant "repatriation bonus" scheme criticized by opposition parties and legal groups as unconstitutional and ethically problematic. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Rasmus Dahlin arrived in Buffalo for the start of training camp with a clear head and a refreshed objective following the shortest summer break of his nine-year NHL career.

This is a far different place for the Sabres captain to be than a year ago, when Dahlin was dealing with the emotional weight of his fiancée requiring life-saving heart transplant surgery in Europe and facing familiar questions regarding Buffalo’s NHL-record 14-season playoff drought.

A year later, Carolina Matovac is healthy and rejoined Dahlin in Buffalo in March. The drought is a thing of the past: The Sabres clinched their first Atlantic Division title and won their first playoff series since 2007 before losing to Montreal in Game 7 in the second round.

“Night and day. I can actually focus on hockey and not have to worry every day of what’s going on,” Dahlin said. “I’m ready to go.”

Don’t confuse his readiness for satisfaction. Having enjoyed his first taste of the postseason, the 26-year-old Swede is hungry for more.

“Last year was hard. This year is going to be harder,” Dahlin said. “We have higher expectations on ourselves and higher expectations around the league. We’re not the same old Sabres any more in other teams’ eyes.”

The challenge is to prove last year was no fluke in preparing to open this season at Columbus on Thursday. The Sabres will do so with a young roster that got even younger following a summer in which top-line forward Alex Tuch was traded to Washington and defenseman Bowen Byram to Chicago.

Though both played key roles in Buffalo’s breakthrough season, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is banking on the promise a brimming crop of youngsters showed last year.

It’s a 24-and-younger forward group that includes Josh Doan, Zach Benson, Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius. They’re being counted upon to provide Buffalo a three-line scoring attack alongside veterans Tage Thompson, Josh Norris, Peyton Krebbs and Jason Zucker.

On defense, Buffalo shored up its core of Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power by acquiring Louis Crevier and Olen Zellweger in trades.

“With the talent that we have internally, I think we need to believe in the work that we’ve put in to develop them, grow with them, and now they’re ready,” said Kekalainen, who is entering his first full season on the job in Buffalo.

He declined to address speculation surrounding Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner who has gone public with his trade demands. Kekalainen would only say he is confident in Buffalo’s three-goalie rotation headed by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, both coming off 20-win seasons.

“By no means are we satisfied,” Kekalainen said, in assessing last season’s success. “'Pretty good,' I said to the team. Pretty good’s not good enough.”

His promotion from senior adviser following Kevyn Adams’ firing in mid-December spurred the Sabres’ turnaround. Buffalo went from last in the Eastern Conference standings to its first 50-win season since 2006-07, closing the year on a 39-9-5 run.

The Sabres are counting on a better start to this year, while building on their scrappy identity and consistency in play.

“We’ve been battle-tested,” said Thompson, before cautioning last year’s results don’t count for anything this year. “It doesn’t give us a free ride to the same spot. We’re going to have to earn it.”

At 66, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was rewarded with a two-year contract extension in May, and enters his third season in his second stint in Buffalo. He ranks third on the NHL list with 1,938 games coached and fourth with 950 wins. Ruff laughed when reminded a 50-win season would get him to 1,000.

“I’ve been around too long,” Ruff said with a chuckle. “But 50 would be really important for our team, because if you get 50, you’re going to be a playoff team. I think that’s a great goal for us as a group for sure.”

Ruff on Tuesday said Samuelsson (lower body) is “very close” to returning a week after getting hurt blocking a shot. ... Lyon (upper body) is anticipated to resume practicing soon after missing a week. Luukkonen practiced on Tuesday after pulling himself from Buffalo's preseason finale on Saturday. ... Veteran forward Conor Sheary was loaned to AHL Rochester, but must first clear waivers.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

FILE - Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) carries the puck over the blue line during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, April 9, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)

FILE - Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff looks on after an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, March 19, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Thien-An Truong, File)