Giorgia Meloni, Italy's Prime Minister, condemned the violence that occurred during the cost of living protests on Sunday and expressed support for the police. The clashes took place on Saturday in Milan, resulting in at least four police officers and 20 protesters being injured.
Causes and Context of the Protests
The unrest occurred as people protested against rising prices, stagnant wages, and a lack of affordable housing in major cities. Young people dressed in black and with covered faces threw fireworks and bottles at the police in Milan and set up barricades in the central Duomo square. According to ANSA news agency, the police initially retreated to wait for reinforcements and then used tear gas to disperse the protesters. About 50 young people were arrested, half of whom were underage.
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Clashes in Other Cities
Clashes also occurred in the cities of Turin, Bologna, and Bergamo. The police in Bologna used water cannons and arrested four individuals, all of whom were underage. Additionally, seven others were referred to judicial authorities. On Sunday, Meloni expressed solidarity with the police and condemned actions that, according to her, were used by criminals to create conflict and chaos from these protests.
She stated, "Protesting is a right, but setting our cities on fire is unacceptable." Giuseppe Sala, the mayor of Milan, also condemned the violence while acknowledging the problems and dissatisfaction underlying these protests, saying, "The reasons for the protests are understandable, but violence against the police and serious damage to the city cannot be justified."
Protesters gathered with slogans against high living costs and low wages, while households are facing high fuel prices and difficulties in finding suitable housing. This violence occurred amid similar protests in France that led to riots, arson, and looting, resulting in over 1,800 arrests in that country.
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