Italian security forces have stepped up preparations for demonstrations in Rome, Milan and six other cities as protests over the rising cost of living, fuel prices and public services are expected to take place across the country.
The demonstrations are scheduled for Saturday, 24 October 2026, following unrest during protests in several Italian cities last weekend. Authorities have increased security deployments to prevent a repeat of clashes, looting and damage to property.
According to reports by the Associated Press and Euronews, the protests are expected in Rome, Milan, Bologna, Genoa, Turin, Florence, Padua and Bari. Students, truck drivers, farmers and other groups have expressed concerns about economic pressures and public spending cuts.
In Rome, police plan to deploy about 1,500 officers, supported by drones and helicopters to monitor demonstrations and surrounding areas. Authorities have also increased monitoring of online platforms where organisers share information about protest locations and activities.
Milan is also under heightened security following violence during demonstrations last weekend. Additional soldiers and police officers are expected to patrol the city centre, where several shops were looted and properties damaged during earlier unrest.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala has urged businesses to remain open, warning that widespread fear could disrupt commercial activities. He said the city would increase security personnel rather than shut down normal activities.
The demonstrations are being organised by groups including the October 17 Movement, which has called for protests in eight Italian cities. Organisers indicated that gathering locations would be announced shortly before the demonstrations, complicating preparations by security agencies.
Separately, an anti-war movement has organised a rally in Rome, adding to the planned demonstrations in the Italian capital.
The unrest comes as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government introduces tougher security measures following last weekend’s violence. The measures include provisions targeting violent participation in demonstrations and financial penalties for parents whose children damage property during unrest.
Authorities have also conducted searches targeting people suspected of involvement in looting and rioting during previous demonstrations.
Although the protests reflect concerns about living costs and public services, Italian officials have stressed that the right to demonstrate must be exercised peacefully and within the law.
The scale of Saturday’s demonstrations and the possibility of further disturbances remain uncertain. Security agencies are expected to monitor developments closely as protesters gather across the country.
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