Italy's 'Sardines' protesters are fighting back against Salvini and nationalism - the UK should follow their lead

Italy and the UK are two profoundly different countries which have somehow wound up in a similar place: electing hard-right, Eurosceptic demagogues after an upsurge in nationalist populism.

Boris Johnson has only just obtained his much-coveted majority, unlike Italian former deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, who remains locked out of the current coalition government after a push for an election that backfired spectacularly. Nevertheless, there’s no denying the enduring popularity of the latter in Italy - even if his stance is further to the right than Johnson's - Salvini is still polling above 30 per cent as of late and It’s clear that the electoral success of both politicians will continue to radically shape the future of the two nations for a long time to come.

But as Britain enters this new decade facing the very real prospect of at least five more years of Tory government under its own populist “strong man”, it’s time we take note from a phenomenon that is ripping up the political order over in Italy. The “Sardines” movement, emerging last November in Bologna to protest the campaign launch of Salvini's far-right League party in the traditionally-leftist Emilia-Romagna, has spread like wildfire throughout the peninsula’s cities.

What started as a riposte to Salvini's boasting that he could fill stadiums with supporters has become a phenomenon. From Milan to Florence to Palermo, the movement’s objective of “filling piazzas like sardines” has worked, with a rally in Rome last month drawing an estimated crowd of 100,000, mostly young, people. The movement’s objectives are simple: demanding an end to the use of violent rhetoric in politics and rallying against fascism, xenophobia and right-wing populism.

In a sense, the movement has turned the tables on Salvini. Like other populists, he has consistently played on the notion of “speaking for the people”, of being on the “people’s side”, against a “liberal” elite. But now, he sees the squares and streets fill up with Italy’s very own future leaders, calling for an end to the hateful populism which his party has helped spread. Indeed, he went from jokingly asking his followers if their kittens “like eating sardines”, to softening his tone by applauding the Sardines’ “participation” in political debate, with his opponents noting a greater reticence on his part to make speeches in town squares.

It doesn’t come as much of a surprise - 40 per cent of Italians view the sardine movement as a greater threat to him than opposition parties, and the movement could hypothetically stand to rack up 17 per cent of votes in a general election.

Looking to the current situation in the UK, must brace ourselves for the inevitable - for four and a half years, Boris Johnson will largely be able to pass anything he wants through parliament. Politically, he now holds an unprecedented power, and this is something we must sadly come to terms with. Nevertheless, as citizens, and especially as young people, we still have the power to change things from the bottom. Our voice is indispensable, and if put to good use, we can stop this government from damaging our country’s identity.

It is crucial for us to remember that, if both Johnson and Salvini have the political influence they have, it’s because we’ve given it to them. Both politicians represent our collective failures. We can blame first-past-the-post as much as we want, but we can’t forget that 44 per cent of us still voted to keep Johnson in No 10. We all undoubtedly have relatives, friends and colleagues, who supported him.

Even if we didn’t vote Conservative, those of us opposed to his platform failed to stop him from being elected. Boris Johnson has become our responsibility now. And since we, the voters, are the ones who “created” him, we too have the power to dismantle him completely. Our greatest influence lies within our ability to both preserve and ultimately improve our country’s social fabric - and this is what will face the greatest risk in the coming five years.

The most nefarious impact which nationalist demagoguery has on our society is in the way it changes our mentality, by normalising hatred and oppression. This is something I’ve witnessed first-hand back in Italy, where the far-right’s scapegoating of migrants has worked its way into public discourse. Last year, the infamous “Decreto Sicurezza” (Security Decree) was passed, which ensured that humanitarian organisations could potentially face fines for rescuing migrants at sea. In a country where foreigners are routinely “othered” and dehumanised, one can clearly see the consequences such language and policies have had on everyday life. Indeed, one recent poll suggests just more than half of Italians consider racist attacks to be either occasionally or always justifiable.

The UK is, tragically, starting to take a similar turn, especially as hate crimes have been rising since the 2016 referendum. Now, we have elected a prime minister who once referred to black people as “flag-waving piccaninnies”, and has received a stirring endorsement from the likes of Tommy Robinson. Boris Johnson may have won these elections, but whether he “wins over” this country is yet to be seen. Italy’s “Sardines” are a powerful beacon of hope in dark times, proof that there can be a popular voice against populism, one that can radically change the political game.

As the UK enters 2020 on a bleak note, it’s time, as young people, to fill the streets of this country, packing up like sardines, saying a loud and clear “no” to what Boris Johnson and his crew stand for. We may not be able to stop him from getting what he wants through parliament, but we can stop his influence from changing our country’s spirit.