Tens of thousands of students and workers took to the streets across Italy on Friday during a nationwide general strike organized by the grassroots union Unione Sindacale di Base.

The action targeted the rising cost of living, stagnant wages, and increased military expenditures. Demonstrations occurred in more than 40 cities, including Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Bologna, and Genoa.

Union organizers estimated up to 1.5 million participants joined the protests. Demonstrators called for wage increases, better public services, and price controls on essentials such as fuel and housing. Many also opposed the use of ports for arms shipments.

Most rallies remained peaceful, though tensions arose in several locations. Police deployed water cannons in Turin to manage crowds approaching security barriers. In Milan, some protesters carried flares and set objects on fire.

The Italian government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has responded to related economic pressures with targeted aid. Last week officials approved a 175 million euro package to assist truck drivers, farmers, and fishermen affected by higher fuel prices linked to Middle East conflicts.

The draft 2027 budget under discussion includes measures such as an annual 2,500 euro bonus for workers under 30. Public transport services operated normally after the government issued a compulsory service order to exempt them from the strike period around the All Saints holiday.

These Italian protests form part of a wider wave of demonstrations across Europe, including in France, Spain, Belgium, and Albania, driven by similar concerns over living costs and government priorities.

Wages in Italy have declined in real terms while prices for food, energy, and housing have risen sharply in recent years, according to union statements and economic reports. The USB linked its demands to opposition against defense spending increases.

Protesters in Rome marched past the Colosseum, with some groups planning to set up tents for continued actions over the weekend.