As smoke cleared from clashes between anti-riot police and demonstrators in Milan's Piazza Duomo, the Italian government responded with a sweeping package of military deployments and stricter legal penalties. According to Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, the cabinet approved sending 500 troops to Milan, establishing a new legal offence for violent demonstration participation, and holding parents financially liable for vandalism and looting committed by minors.

According to Al Jazeera, citing reports from AFP and Reuters, the unrest swept northern Italian cities over the weekend, driven by public anger over soaring fuel and energy prices, high rents, low wages, and the state of public services. In response, the Italian Ministry of Defence stated that the military will help reinforce security at key sites, step up surveillance, and enhance monitoring.

Under the new measures, which take effect immediately, anyone taking part in a group of at least five people that endangers public safety during protests faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of €20,000 ($22,460), Al Jazeera reported. Penalties will increase if faces are concealed or individuals are injured. Furthermore, police are now permitted to detain youths aged between 14 and 17 even if no crime has been committed, provided there is evidence they pose a danger—extending powers previously limited to adults, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera noted that while the cabinet approved these measures, it did not grant soldiers policing powers, following opposition from President Sergio Mattarella, according to Italian media cited in the report. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated on social media, as reported by Al Jazeera, that "destroying and stealing is not protest, it is crime, and the state’s response must be firm."

Background

According to Al Jazeera, the recent disturbances in northern Italy echoed riots in neighbouring France, where hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in significant turmoil. Additionally, Meloni’s government faces pressure from a separate wave of protests in southern Italy, where truck drivers angered by soaring diesel prices and the rising cost of living have staged roadblocks disrupting supply chains. Protesters across both regions have expressed concern that rising prices are pushing families into poverty ahead of the 2027 national elections.

Why it matters

For readers observing global developments, the events highlight how inflation, fuel costs, and economic pressures can quickly trigger widespread civil unrest and prompt sharp state responses. Governments worldwide frequently grapple with balancing public grievances over the cost of living against the maintenance of public order and security.