Large-scale strike in Italy protests Meloni’s budget plans

Trade unions in Italy staged a large-scale strike on Friday to protest the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and its proposed budget, disrupting public services across the country.

Tens of thousands of people took part in demonstrations and rallies across the country. Protesters carried banners reading, “I am striking against an unjust budget law.”

The work stoppages affected schools, hospitals and the postal service.

Rail transport was particularly disrupted nationwide, with cancellations and delays on long-distance and regional trains. Local public transport in some cities was also affected.

The protest – described as a “general strike” by trade unions – is directed against the Meloni government’s draft budget.

Italy’s largest trade union confederation CGIL believes that the plans would “worsen people’s living and working conditions and affect workers, pensioners, young people and women.”

Despite allocating new spending of €18 billion ($21.2 billion), CGIL argues that health care, schools, care for the elderly, affordable housing and local transport are not adequately prioritized in the budget.

Meloni has been in power in Rome for three years at the head of a coalition of three far-right and conservative parties.

According to media reports, the budget will be discussed in the Chamber of Deputies next week. It must be approved by both chambers of parliament by the end of the year.