Italy tightens security as students and unions protest nationwide over costs and Middle East wars
Tens of thousands marched in dozens of Italian cities demanding action on living costs, education funding and an end to conflicts in the Middle East.
At a glance
- Tens of thousands of students and union members protested across Italy on Friday over living costs, education funding and Middle East wars.
- The government deployed heavy security and recently approved a €175 million aid package for workers hit by fuel-price increases.
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni toughened public-order laws after October clashes in Milan and pledged youth bonuses in the 2027 budget.
On Friday, tens of thousands of students and union members marched in dozens of Italian cities, including Rome, Milan and Naples, to protest soaring living costs, demand greater investment in education and call for an end to wars in the Middle East, according to Al Jazeera.
The hard-right government deployed a large police presence and tightened security around landmarks such as the Colosseum in Rome and Milan’s cathedral. Skirmishes broke out between protesters and riot police in Turin, while rallies also took place in Bologna and Genoa.
The USB trade union organised a general strike that drew truck drivers, taxi drivers and farmers. Unions across Italy joined peers in France, Greece, Spain, Turkiye and Morocco in a joint statement demanding an end to the war in Gaza and the “militarisation of ports,” insisting that dockworkers should not handle weapons or military equipment.
Last week the government approved a €175 million ($195 million) aid package for truck drivers, farmers and fishermen affected by fuel-price spikes linked to the Middle East conflicts. Since 2000, prices for food, energy, transport and bills have risen 68% in Italy while average wages have fallen nearly 5%.
The draft 2027 budget includes an annual €2,500 bonus for workers under 30. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the measures aim to show young people the state cares, but stressed they are “not for those who smash windows.”
After clashes on 17-18 October in Milan, where mainly young people looted shops and smashed windows, Meloni’s government toughened laws on public gatherings and eased detention rules for minors.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- Why are students and unions protesting in Italy?
- They are demanding action on soaring living costs, more investment in education and an end to wars in the Middle East, including Gaza.
- What security measures has the Italian government taken?
- Authorities increased police presence at major landmarks, toughened laws on public gatherings and eased detention rules for minors following clashes in Milan.
- What economic relief has the government announced?
- A €175 million aid package for truck drivers, farmers and fishermen affected by fuel prices, plus a proposed €2,500 annual bonus for workers under 30 in the 2027 budget.
