Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in a nationwide day of protest against the Italian government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Demonstrations were held in major cities including Rome, Milan, and Turin, as well as in smaller communities, with rallies planned in approximately 50 locations across the country. Students and schoolchildren joined the crowds in many areas to voice their demands.
The protests target Meloni's coalition of three right-wing and conservative parties, which has been in power since 2022. Critics hold the government responsible for a current inflation rate of 4.3 percent, stagnant wages, and high defense expenditures. While the general public focuses on economic issues, students and young people are specifically calling for increased funding for schools and universities.
The trade union USB called for work stoppages in various sectors, including public transport and healthcare. However, disruptions to local and long-distance transport remained limited in the morning after Transport Minister Matteo Salvini issued an order banning strikes in the transport sector due to the upcoming All Saints' Day holiday on November 1.
Security forces were deployed extensively across the country due to fears of violence. In Turin, clashes occurred between demonstrators and police earlier in the day. Authorities have implemented enhanced controls and security measures in numerous cities to prevent disorder, with specific protection details assigned to landmarks such as the Colosseum in Rome and the Duomo in Milan.
These precautions follow a history of violent riots in Milan after peaceful gatherings, where scenes of burning trash cans, smashed shop windows, and looted stores recently caused alarm. Reports indicate that most of the rioters involved in those incidents were minors, some as young as eleven. Authorities have appealed to demonstrators not to wear hoods or helmets to help identify individuals and prevent further escalation.
Sources: Der Spiegel.