Thousands of Italians gathered once again to protest the rising cost of living, amid tight government security enforcement.
On Saturday, 24 Oct 2026, thousands of citizens, students, truck drivers, and farmers held a large-scale protest against soaring living costs, including fuel and housing prices, while calling on the government to cut military spending and redirect funds to education.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government approved strict security measures following riots the previous week, allowing authorities to conduct preemptive searches and arrests, easing detention laws for minors, and imposing fines on parents if their children cause damage during demonstrations.
Police took control of the situation, resulting in clashes in some areas. Authorities arrested nine protesters and temporarily detained 371 people, including 110 minors, at police stations across eight major cities. They also arrested a 30-year-old man, the leader of the “October 17 Movement,” who spearheaded the protests.
In Milan, thousands marched, bringing central city traffic to a halt. The government dispatched 500 soldiers to the area to maintain security.
The protests forced some fashion stores and local businesses to close early or board up windows to prevent looting, repeating incidents from the previous week. Other shops chose to remain open to show they were not intimidated by the protesters.
In Rome, several thousand people also marched, with tensions rising briefly when some protesters attempted to enter the Colosseum.
Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that police professionally isolated and controlled violent groups, emphasizing, "There is no place in Italy for those misguided individuals who believe they can act without consequence."
Protesters and student groups said the marches are a fundamental right and criticized the government's security policies, urging a reduction in military budgets to fund education instead.
Separately, truck drivers blockaded roads in southern Italy, causing severe shortages of food and fuel for about a week. The blockade has now been lifted after the government approved financial aid for businesses affected by high fuel prices, linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
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Source:cna