More than 100,000 protest across Italy against Meloni's government over cost of living

Rallies in more than 50 cities

More than 100,000 people took to the streets across Italy on Friday, 30 October, in a nationwide day of action against the government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Rallies were held in more than 50 cities, with the largest in Rome, Milan, Naples and Turin. As in the demonstrations of recent weeks, many pupils and students joined, and security forces were deployed in large numbers out of fear of violence. The action day was called by the USB union, which said at midday that at least one million people had taken part nationwide. Police figures had not yet been released.

Nationwide (USB union, at least)1,000,000

Turin (organisers)50,000

Milan ring road (organisers, more than)30,000

Nationwide (USB union, at least)

1000000 people

Turin (organisers)

50000 people

Milan ring road (organisers, more than)

30000 people

Data from the article text

Inflation, wages and defence spending

Protesters directed their anger at rising living costs, low wages and the government's heavy spending on armaments. Meloni's coalition of three right-leaning and conservative parties is blamed for high inflation, low pay and the defence budget. Preliminary calculations put Italy's inflation rate for October at 5.4%, the highest in three years, although Deutsche Welle gave a current figure of 4.3%. Banners read 'Lay down the weapons, raise wages' and 'No to the war economy', and marchers also demanded more money for schools and universities. Palestinian flags were visible next to the Italian tricolour in many places.

Clashes and police deployment

Most rallies stayed peaceful until midday. In Turin, protesters and police scuffled, and in Mestre and Vicenza initial figures put the injured at ten police officers and three demonstrators. One person was struck in the head by a tear gas canister. Smaller scuffles were reported elsewhere, though far fewer than at the demonstrations two weeks earlier, when more than 200 security personnel were injured in Milan alone. In Turin, protesters tipped two containers of manure in front of the town hall, and in Padua a picture of education minister Giuseppe Valditara was burned. In Naples, demonstrators burned a banner showing Meloni and university minister Anna Maria Bernini.

Police officers10

Demonstrators3

Police officers

10 people

Demonstrators

3 people

Data from the article text

Authorities responded with heavy security. The Interior Ministry moved to isolate people prepared to use violence, the Colosseum in Rome was guarded, the cathedral in Milan was protected, and 500 soldiers were deployed in Milan. Police urged demonstrators not to wear hoods or helmets.

Strike limited to transport and health

The USB had called a general strike, but the walkouts covered public transport and the health sector, and the disruption in the morning stayed limited. The walkouts fell well short of a general strike. Transport minister Matteo Salvini had banned transport strikes ahead of the All Saints holiday on 1 November, a step Italian law allows. Protesters marched to the transport ministry in Rome to voice their anger. The union also said the strike would reach schools and ports, and other unions announced their own work stoppages.

Election next year and protests abroad

SRF reports that Italy votes next year, and polls show Meloni and her party Brothers of Italy in front. Meloni has been in office since autumn 2022 and has governed for more than four years without interruption, longer than anyone else in Rome since the Second World War. Handelsblatt notes that a newer party further to the right, Futuro Nazionale, is putting pressure on her, and that no election date has been set. Protests over high prices are also under way in other European countries, and young people in Germany plan to demonstrate on Saturday.