It is a decision that is causing quite a political stir in Italy. The elite university in Florence is renaming its Christmas celebrations – these will now be called the Winter Festival.
The university’s ethnic equality rules stipulate that religious holidays are included in the calendar, but with an “inclusive designation”.
“The European University Institute is an international university that welcomes more and more students from all over the world. This truly international environment requires a policy of integration of different cultures,” said a press release from the university, led by Belgian Renaud Dehousse.
“To this end, the Institute recently adopted a plan to advance racial equality, which recommends the use of inclusive language in the Institute’s various activities,” the press release said.
The ruling party reacts angrily
There is now a heated debate surrounding the university, which was founded five decades ago by the six founding members of the then European Community, including Italy. Lawmaker from the right-wing ruling Lega party, Susanna Ceccardi, deplored a strategy to “erase the hallmarks of our civilization in the name of a so-called respect for other cultures.”
“There can be no respect for others unless we first learn to respect ourselves. I therefore hope that this decision will be immediately reversed by the institute’s management,” Ceccardi emphasizes.
Minister of Foreign Affairs is “surprised”
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also criticized the university. “I am surprised by the decision of the President of the European University Institute in Fiesole to change the name of Christmas.
We are proud of the respect for our Christian roots, that is what Europe is based on,” the former President of the European Parliament and interim head of the right-wing conservative ruling party Forza Italia wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
