Mass protests spread from France to Italy

Mass protests spread from France to Italy, according to La Presse.

October 17, 2026 (and the day before) Demonstrations broke out in Rome, Milan, Turin, Bologna and other Italian cities, mainly organized by students and trade unions, under the slogans "No Meloni Day" and against the rising cost of living.

According to the information, the main requirements include raising salaries and pensions, reducing taxes, as well as redirecting military spending to education and social security. The protesters also expressed dissatisfaction with the high cost of living and low salaries.

In Milan, Turin, Bologna and other places there were clashes with the police. The protesters threw stones, bottles and firecrackers at the security forces, set fire to garbage cans and set up barricades. In response, law enforcement officers used tear gas and water cannons. In Milan, people were evacuated from Duomo Square, and in Bologna, the railway station was closed for a while.

The General Italian Confederation of Labor (CGIL) at a rally in Rome announced a general strike on November 20.

Large protests against the rising cost of living with violence also took place in France on October 17, and the Italian protests are seen as part of a wave of social unrest in Europe.