As summer has set in for good, dozens of Italian bathers have flocked to the beaches. But there are many who have risen against the party of Georgia Meloni, Brothers of Italy.

According to Politico, these are bathers – activists of the group Mare Libero or otherwise “Free the Seas” that have spilled onto beaches where the rich enjoy moments of relaxation such as the Posilippo area with its Neapolitan villas or Forte dei Marmi, a favorite of the jet set that is home to fashion designer Giorgio Armani and former Belgian Queen Paola.

Activists are targeting beaches that should normally be free for all after the European Commission repeatedly ordered Italy to end lucrative concessions granted to restaurants, beach clubs and beach bars that control the coastline. But those who have been given part of the beaches have been enraged by this EU decision and are now receiving support from Italy’s ruling party.

Carlo Fidanza, the head of the Brotherhood of Italy’s delegation to the European Parliament, called the activists “rioters”.

For Georgia Meloni, the topic of beaches is a headache. This is an issue inherited from her predecessor Mario Draghi, who decided three years ago that local authorities had to auction beach concessions until the end of 2023 and could only continue the concessions if they had already started the submission process offers.

Meloni’s government tried to delay business compliance for another year, but was blocked by court rulings. Indeed, the Commission has also warned Italy of legal action.

Fidanza told Politico that the administration maintains it does not need to comply immediately with the opening of beaches. “We want to continue the dialogue with the Commission to reach a common legislation that can take into account this particularity of our tourism”, he said a few days before he was re-elected to the European Parliament with Meloni’s party.

However, many are losing patience with these delays and the government’s tactics after years of political inaction. Green and left-wing politicians during their European Parliament campaign called for tighter restrictions on the granting of beach concessions, including a 12-year limit.

Roberto Biagini the founder of Mare Libero explained that the organization’s activists are working with the country’s competition authority to find out about the beaches that have not met the deadline to start the concession tender.

Italy’s competition authority announced this month that it would appeal the concession extension to five municipalities.

“Since the beginning of time, no one can say anything if every Italian citizen lays down a towel and plants an umbrella on a beach,” Biagini said.