Italian cities once again become scenes of protest
Thousands of people demonstrated against high costs, war policy and government policy.
Follow-up to: Italy deploys extra troops amid nationwide protests Saturday, 24 October 2026, 18:14
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Protests were held again in several Italian cities on Saturday against the rising cost of living and the government’s policies. The authorities deployed additional police and military personnel following the violent unrest of the previous weekend.
According to Reuters, demonstrations took place in Milan, Rome, Turin and Bologna, among other cities. Reuters reported that gatherings in Milan were largely peaceful, while clashes between demonstrators and police were reported in other cities.
The protests are not focused on a single issue. Participants cite high prices, low wages, the cost of fuel and housing, as well as higher military spending and Italy’s position in international conflicts. A national demonstration was scheduled in Rome under the slogan that Italy must stay out of the war.
The government had announced additional security measures in advance. Hundreds of extra military personnel were deployed in Milan. Many shops closed as a precaution, and police units prepared for spontaneous gatherings, as calls for them circulated on social media.
The new day of protests follows unrest on 17 and 18 October, when violence, damage and looting were reported in several cities. The authorities are trying to prevent a repeat. On Saturday, Reuters reported, citing police information, that police in Milan had also taken in someone who may have been involved in organising the earlier mobilisation. That person was taken to a police station for questioning.
It is not yet clear whether the protest movement will develop into a lasting national organisation. The demonstrations bring together a range of groups: trade unions, students, peace activists and people who say they are mainly struggling with higher everyday expenses. The scale and composition vary from city to city, making the movement’s political significance difficult to summarise in a single direction.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- On 24 October, demonstrations were held in several Italian cities.
- The demonstrations concerned, among other things, the cost of living, wages, housing, military spending and government policy.
- The authorities deployed additional police and military personnel following earlier unrest.
- The course of events differed from city to city: in Milan it was largely peaceful, while clashes were reported elsewhere.
Left
Arguments The protests are seen as a response to declining purchasing power, low wages and inadequate public services. From this perspective, the government should invest in housing, education and healthcare and exercise restraint over additional military spending.
Values Economic equality, social protection, public services and peace.
Consequences If the government focuses mainly on policing and maintaining order, this could increase distrust and allow the underlying problems of poverty and declining purchasing power to persist.
Centre
Arguments The institutional approach emphasises both the right to demonstrate and the government’s duty to protect shops, local residents and emergency services. Structural measures to tackle high prices can exist alongside temporary security measures.
Values The rule of law, proportionality, administrative feasibility and social stability.
Consequences A combination of dialogue, targeted support and enforcement can create space for peaceful protest, but it takes time and does not produce immediately visible results.
Right
Arguments The emphasis is on public order, protecting property and preventing a broad protest movement from normalising violence or looting. According to this view, the government must first restore security and discuss reforms afterwards.
Values Security, responsibility, property rights and authority.
Consequences A tough approach may limit escalation in the short term, but it may also alienate peaceful demonstrators if police action is not clearly proportionate.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The reporting is based on two independent international sources that describe the same day of protests. The text explicitly retains uncertainty about the movement’s lasting political significance and the precise extent of the violence.
- confirmed On 24 October, there were protests in several Italian cities against rising costs and government policy. — Reported by AP and Reuters. source
- confirmed Additional military personnel were deployed in Milan, and the day of protests was largely peaceful. — AP and Reuters report the security deployment and the largely peaceful course of events in Milan. source
- confirmed A person who may have been involved in the so-called October 17 Movement was taken in for questioning in Milan. — Reuters reports this as police information; the involvement is not presented as established fact. source
Editor's note
The demonstrations, security measures and differences between cities were reported by AP and Reuters. Reports of violence varied by location; for that reason, the article does not refer to a national escalation.Sources
- Soldiers guard center of Milan as thousands of protesters march in cities across Europe — Associated Press
- Protests sweep Italian cities amid heavy security presence, some violence reported — Reuters via Internazionale
- Italian authorities prepare for protests — Euronews
The story so far
- Saturday, 24 October 2026, 18:14 Italy deploys extra troops amid nationwide protests
- Saturday, 24 October 2026, 18:42 Italian researcher suspected of inciting criminal offences
- Saturday, 24 October 2026, 21:42 Italian protests also focus on purchasing power
- Saturday, 24 October 2026, 21:43 Italian cities once again become scenes of protest (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „italië protesten”
- de Volkskrant — „italië protesten”
- RTL Nieuws — „italië protesten”