Le Pen's National Rally, Meloni's coalition push brothel reopening in Europe

• Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France is pushing to reopen brothels, proposing a bill for sex worker-run cooperatives to ensure safety and regulation.
• Proponents argue reopening brothels would improve sex worker safety, hygiene, and rights, while combating illegal trade.
• Brothels were banned in France in 1946, and a 2016 law penalizes clients; some critics oppose the new bill, fearing exploitation.
• Italy's governing coalition also advocates for reopening and regulating brothels to end hypocrisy and tax the industry.
• Belgium fully decriminalized sex work in 2022, providing labor protections like social insurance and benefits to sex workers.

Why It Matters: European far-right parties push to regulate brothels, aiming to improve sex worker safety.