Saturday is the 100's anniversary of the declaration of war to Italy by the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The Italian neo-fascist social movement CasaPound has decided to honour the anniversary by organizing a march to Gorizia, to which their followers from all over the country have been invited – they expect two to three thousand participants.
The plans for the neo-fascist manifestation have caused passionate response by the Slovenians living in Italy, and by the Italian left-wingers. "It is a blatant attack at coexistence and peaceful cohabitation at the border, both in choice of the date and the place, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Italy's entering World War I, which had brought so much misery," said Jurij Paljk, managing editor of the Novi Glas, weekly magazine of Slovenians living in Italy.
The councillors of the city of Gorizia are not opposed to the march of the CasaPound followers, and have denied the request made by the councillor from United left Emanuele Traini to prohibit the march. The opponents of the neo-fascist manifestation have therefore already placed 253 crosses at the Travnik square in Gorizia, thus expressing their disapproval. A large anti-fascist meeting will take place at the square, with participation of a number of Slovenians.