Algeria gate: October 30, 2026 — Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Italy on Friday as a nationwide general strike triggered widespread protests against rising living costs, government policies, increased military spending and the country’s involvement in the arms trade.

The demonstrations, organised in response to a call by the grassroots trade union Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), brought together workers, university and high-school students, pensioners, activists and port employees in more than 40 cities, including Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, Venice and Palermo.
Protesters voiced growing frustration over the rising cost of essential goods, housing, energy bills and declining purchasing power, while demanding stronger investment in public services, particularly education and healthcare. They also criticised the government’s rearmament policies and called for an end to the use of Italian ports for arms shipments to conflict zones.
The mobilisation was particularly visible in Milan, where around 30,000 people reportedly joined a march along a section of the city’s ring road, which was closed to traffic. In Genoa, approximately 15,000 port workers, students and other demonstrators gathered in and around the port, highlighting their opposition to the transport of weapons.
However, the demonstrations were not entirely peaceful. In Rome, clashes broke out after a group of protesters separated from the main march, throwing objects at police officers and setting fire to rubbish bins and electric scooters. In Turin, police deployed water cannons and charged at demonstrators after tensions escalated near the prefecture.

The authorities had placed several major cities under heightened security measures following violent incidents during previous demonstrations in Milan, Turin, Rome and Bologna in recent weeks.
The strike also affected several sectors, including schools, public transport and other essential services, reflecting the broader social and economic concerns behind the mobilisation.
Friday’s demonstrations underscore the growing tensions surrounding Italy‘s economic pressures, social demands and government priorities, as thousands of citizens continue to call for better living conditions, stronger public services and a different approach to military spending.



