Italy tightens security as nationwide student and union protests spread

Italy has tightened security as tens of thousands of students and union members took part in coordinated protests across the country on Friday. Marches were held in dozens of cities, with Rome, Milan and Naples among the main centres affected. The demonstrations focused on living costs, education funding, fuel prices, defence spending and the wars in the Middle East.

A large police presence was deployed as the government moved to limit the risk of unrest. In Rome, security was stepped up around the Colosseum, while Milan's cathedral also received special protection. In Turin, there were small skirmishes between protesters and riot police at the start of one rally, while other demonstrations were reported in Bologna and Genoa.

The USB trade union called for a general strike that drew large numbers of demonstrators, including truck drivers, taxi drivers and farmers. The protests also reflected wider anger over higher fuel prices and rising defence spending. Unions said they were acting jointly with counterparts in France, Greece, Spain, Turkiye and Morocco in calling for an end to the wars in the Middle East, including the war in Gaza.

The demonstrations come at a time when Italy is already under pressure from rising household costs and political debate over public spending. The rallies highlighted concerns about the cost of food, energy, transport and bills, which have risen sharply over time, while average wages have fallen. The issue has become politically sensitive for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government, which has sought to present itself as responsive to public frustration while also warning against violence.

The government last week agreed a 175 million euro aid package for truck drivers, farmers and fishermen affected by soaring fuel prices linked to the war in the Middle East. It has also inserted measures into the draft 2027 budget, including an annual bonus of 2,500 euros for workers under 30, as part of a broader effort to support young people and families. Meloni said this week that she hoped the measures would provide answers for young people who feel the state does not care about them, while stressing that they were not intended for those who damage property.

What remains unclear is how long the protest wave will continue and whether the security response will be enough to prevent further clashes. It is also not yet clear whether the union mobilisation will translate into sustained pressure on the government over spending priorities and foreign policy. For now, the protests have become a test of how Italy manages domestic economic anger alongside wider anti-war sentiment.

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