Thousands protest in Italy against cost of life and government policies

Mpeople's islanders, most of whom students, civil servants and organisations for the right to housing, have today expressed their opposition to the high cost of living, government policies and military re-armament in Italy.

The protests were part of a general strike called by Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) and covered the main Italian cities, especially Rome, where a camp was set up in front of the Colosseum that will extend until Sunday.

According to the member of the National Executive Committee of USB Stefano De Angelis, who quoted data from the organization, more than 1.5 million people participated in the protests at national level, but official numbers are not yet available.

“ The workers, the working class, the homeless and the agricultural producers mobilized against the economic crisis that this government imposes on us to finance the re-armament and military expenditure that has nothing to do with the interests of the people,” he said.

In Rome, where the authorities estimated the participation of some 20,000 people, the main demonstration started from Piazza del Cinquecento, organized by the basic unions and student groups, and moved on to the vicinity of the Colosseum.

There, the organizers announced the intention to occupy the Via dei Fori Imperiali, an avenue that connects the central Piazza Venezia to the monument, and set up tents until Sunday, a day when a popular and trade union assembly is held to end the mobilization initiated with today's general strike in Italy.

The initiative, promoted by USB and the Lotta per la Casa movement (Fight for Housing), aims to transform the area into a space for mobilization and participation of the various sectors that have supported the protests.

“ This demonstration doesn't end here. We will continue the mobilization until Sunday, when, in this square, under the Colosseum, we will hold a large national popular assembly with the presence of representatives of all the mobilizations that took place today in the country,” De Angelis explained.

The trade union leader also denounced the restrictions that, he said, prevent demonstrators from approaching Montecitorio, the seat of the House of Representatives (the lower chamber of the Italian parliament), classifying them as “antidemocratic”.

“ In any country where there are demonstrations against the Government, it is possible to reach the seat of the Government and Parliament. In Italy, it is forbidden”, he criticized.

The main episode of tension of the day took place in Turin (north Italy), where clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces in central Piazza Castello.

The marchers threw eggs, bottles and red paint at the shock police, who responded with attacks and the use of water cannons.

After the clashes, the participants returned to the university campus, but announced a new concentration at 18:00 locals (17:00 in Lisbon) to continue the protests.

The strike also caused major traffic disturbances, especially in Bologna (north Italy), where protesters blocked access to various educational institutions and marched along the roads, forcing the temporary closure of a motorway.

The strike marked the start of a series of protests in Italy, which will extend until 20 November with a new general strike, called by the CGIL, the country's largest trade union federation, and a taxi driver strike scheduled for 14 December.

A strong police presence was observed throughout the country after violent incidents on 17 and 18 October in Milan, Turin and Bologna, which led the Government to pass an extraordinary security decree and mobilize 500 military personnel to support police forces.