Italian Economy: 500 troops deployed as cost-of-living protests return

The Italian government has deployed 500 soldiers to Milan to secure the nation's financial center ahead of a new wave of protests scheduled for Saturday. This military presence follows a week of unrest that included police clashes and widespread looting, driven by public anger over the rising cost of living and the right-wing administration of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The unrest began in earnest on October 17, when a group calling itself the October 17 Movement announced its formation online. This newly created coalition, which includes student federations, grassroots trade unions, and antiwar coalitions, has become the primary organizer of recent demonstrations. The group stated on its Instagram page that it distrusts the current administration, describing the government's approach as authoritarian. The movement has positioned itself against what it calls the denial of the youth's future.

Following the chaotic protests in Milan on the previous weekend, the state introduced stricter security protocols. On Friday, police executed raids and searches across several cities to identify suspects involved in the recent riots. Adnkronos reported that officers conducted an additional 150 raids in the Lombardy region on Saturday morning. The government also announced a series of new measures to maintain order, with the deployment of troops to Milan serving as the centerpiece of the response.

The October 17 Movement has urged its followers to maintain peace to avoid giving law enforcement a reason to act aggressively. A participant identified as E told Al Jazeera on Thursday that the group must remain peaceful to prevent police charges. Another member, identified as Q, argued that the distinction between violent and peaceful protesters is minimal, stating that the group represents a unified front. Organizers have kept the specific locations of Saturday's demonstrations secret until the last minute, with three meeting points expected to be released on social media in the afternoon.

Police have also moved to investigate the leadership of the protest movement. Authorities told Al Jazeera that they located and are questioning the administrator of the group's Instagram page. The Corriere della Sera identified the individual as a 30-year-old Italian-Moroccan freelance journalist and researcher. He is currently under investigation on suspicion of inciting crimes, a charge that adds a legal dimension to the ongoing standoff between the state and the demonstrators.

The demographic profile of those arrested in the previous round of protests has drawn scrutiny. Of the 271 people detained last Sunday, 220 were under the age of 18. The Corriere della Sera reported that some minors joined after being added to a Telegram group unexpectedly. One detainee claimed they were told they could take goods from the chaos. Michele D'Agostino, a lawyer defending two demonstrators aged 21 and 15, said the teenager had seen the protest on TikTok and did not fully understand the context. The public prosecutor has blamed social media for misleading young people into insurrectional acts.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio responded to the high number of minor arrests by telling Sky TG24 that the country needs to expand the capacity of its youth detention facilities. In a separate economic matter, truck drivers in southern Italy set up roadblocks earlier this week to protest soaring fuel prices. These blockades left many markets without supplies for days. The government attempted to ease the pressure on Thursday by granting tax breaks and creating a special fund for farmers and fishermen.

The government's response combines direct military intervention with financial incentives for the agricultural sector. The 500 soldiers in Milan are positioned to protect key infrastructure, while the new fund aims to offset the high fuel costs affecting the supply chain. The October 17 Movement continues to coordinate its efforts through social media, with the next round of demonstrations set to begin this Saturday in eight different Italian cities.