Thousands of people marched in cities across Italy on Saturday to protest the rising cost of living, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government and the wars in the Middle East. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, but tensions flared in Turin, Florence, Bologna and Rome towards evening, leading to nine arrests nationwide, according to the Department of Public Security.
The protests on 24 October saw groups gather in multiple cities including Rome, Milan, Florence, Turin and Bologna. Unlike a single coordinated march, small clusters assembled in different parts of each city and later converged, repeatedly attempting to reach city centres before being blocked by police and soldiers.
In Rome, a small group broke away from the main march on Via Cavour and entered the Colosseum, chanting and holding placards. Authorities later escorted them out. A video circulated on social media showed a young demonstrator standing in front of a police water cannon truck; the truck moved forward a couple of metres before officers dragged the man away.
In Florence, demonstrators tried to cross the Santa Trìnita bridge; police held the cordon and used batons as protesters pushed against the barrier. In Bologna, bottles and other objects were thrown at security forces, who responded with a water cannon and tear gas. One person was taken to hospital after being struck by police.
Milan saw calmer conditions on Saturday, with at least three marches merging and moving through the city centre. Verbal clashes occurred between protesters and far-right activists.
By the end of the day, 87 people had been reported to authorities and 371 were taken to police stations for checks, including 110 minors and 69 foreign nationals. In Milan, a 30-year-old man, Youssef Siher, was detained on suspicion of aggravated incitement to commit a crime, accused of being behind the “17 October Movement,” which is said to have coordinated participation in the previous weekend’s protests.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the security operation in a social media post on Saturday evening. “The right to demonstrate must always be guaranteed, just as the right of citizens to live in their cities in safety,” Meloni wrote. “Safety must be guaranteed for everyone. For those who want to protest peacefully, for those who work and for those who want to live in their city without fear. Without leaving room for those who seek only confrontation and violence.”
The government had enacted a significant security operation after violence the previous weekend, deploying police and soldiers in city centres, including 500 soldiers in Milan.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The protests reflect widespread public frustration in Italy over the rising cost of living, adding political pressure on Prime Minister Meloni’s government ahead of any upcoming budget or policy debates.
- The government’s heavy security response, including the deployment of soldiers and police, signals a hardening stance that may shape future protest movements and civil liberties discussions in Italy and across Europe.
- The involvement of minors (110 taken for checks) and foreign nationals highlights the broad demographic reach of the demonstrations and potential for further escalation.
Background
Italy has seen periodic protests over economic hardship and government policy in recent years. The 24 October demonstrations followed a weekend of violence that prompted the government to ramp up security, including patrols by police officers and soldiers in city centres. The “17 October Movement” referenced by authorities appears to have played a role in organising the earlier protests, though its structure and demands are not detailed in available reports.
What to Watch
- Any further arrests or investigations linked to the “17 October Movement” and whether it leads to broader crackdowns on protest organising.
- The government’s next policy steps on cost-of-living measures, especially after Meloni approved aid for transport, farming and fishing sectors amid pressure from truckers.
- Whether the security-heavy approach continues or shifts in response to public reaction from both protesters and civil liberties groups.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.
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- SupportedThousands of people protested across Italy on Saturday.Euronews: “Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday across Italy to protest over a range of issues, including the rising cost of living, Giorgia Meloni's government and the wars in the Middle East.”
- SupportedNine people were arrested nationwide.Euronews: “No serious clashes were reported, with nine people arrested nationwide.”
- SupportedMeloni praised the security operation.Euronews: “In a post on social media on Saturday evening, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised those involved in the efforts to manage the demonstrations.”
- SupportedThe demonstrations were mostly peaceful, with tensions or clashes reported in several cities.Euronews: “The protests were mostly peaceful, although some moments of tension were reported towards the evening in Turin, Florence, Bologna and Rome.”
- Partly supportedTensions in Turin, Florence, Bologna and Rome led to the nine nationwide arrests.Euronews: “By the end of the day, nine people had been arrested and 87 were reported to the authorities, according to the Department of Public Security.”
- Partly supportedSmall groups assembled and later converged in each city, repeatedly trying to reach city centres before police and soldiers blocked them.Euronews: “In Florence, as in Turin, Milan and Rome, protesters did not organise a single main march, but instead small groups gathered in different parts of the city and later joined up. They repeatedly tried to reach the city centres but were blocked by security forces.”
- SupportedMeloni wrote: “The right to demonstrate must always be guaranteed, just as the right of citizens to live in their cities in safety,”Euronews: “"The right to demonstrate must always be guaranteed, just as the right of citizens to live in their cities in safety," Meloni said.”
- SupportedMeloni wrote: “Safety must be guaranteed for everyone. For those who want to protest peacefully, for those who work and for those who want to live in their city without fear. Without leaving room for those who seek only confrontation and violence.”Euronews: “"Safety must be guaranteed for everyone. For those who want to protest peacefully, for those who work and for those who want to live in their city without fear. Without leaving room for those who seek only confrontation and violence," she added.”
- SupportedBy day’s end, 87 people had been reported to authorities and 371 were taken to police stations for checks, including 110 minors and 69 foreign nationals.Euronews: “By the end of the day, nine people had been arrested and 87 were reported to the authorities, according to the Department of Public Security. A further 371 people were taken to police stations for checks, including 110 minors and 69 foreign nationals.”
- SupportedThirty-year-old Youssef Siher was detained on suspicion of aggravated incitement to commit a crime.Euronews: “In Milan, 30-year-old Youssef Siher was also detained and placed under investigation on suspicion of aggravated incitement to commit a crime.”
- Partly supportedSiher was accused of being behind the “17 October Movement,” which coordinated participation in the previous weekend’s protests.Euronews: “He is alleged to have been behind the "17 October Movement," a group through which thousands of people are said to have shared information about taking part in last weekend's protests.”
- Partly supportedThe government launched a significant security operation after the previous weekend’s violence, deploying police and soldiers in city centres, including 500 soldiers in Milan.Euronews: “After last weekend's violence, the government enacted a significant new security operation, with police officers and soldiers patrolling city centres. In Milan, 500 soldiers were also deployed in response to attacks on shops last Saturday.”