Europe Asia News

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that she respected the thousands of people who peacefully participated in the demonstration organized by the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL), emphasizing that the right to protest is one of the fundamental pillars of a healthy democracy.

Referring to incidents in Milan, Turin and Bologna, Meloni said that some demonstrations had been disrupted by attacks on security forces, injuries to police officers, property damage and arrests, and that a railway station had been closed as a precautionary measure.

Meloni criticized the use of protests to create violence and chaos, stating that protesting is a right but setting cities on fire and looting them cannot be considered part of that right.

Meloni called on the opposition to condemn incidents of violence unconditionally and to make a clear appeal for demonstrations to remain peaceful. She described silence in the face of violence as unacceptable.