Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-18**Lead**
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned what she called “gangs of thugs” on Sunday after protests across several Italian cities turned violent overnight, with demonstrators clashing with police, setting off firecrackers, and attacking storefronts in Rome, Milan and Turin. The unrest broke out during rallies against COVID-19 restrictions and the government’s green pass health certificate system, escalating into some of the most visible street violence Italy has seen in months.
**Context**
The protests erupted as Italy continues to enforce strict health protocols tied to the pandemic, including vaccine requirements for workers and access to many public spaces. The green pass, a digital or paper certificate proving vaccination, recent recovery from COVID-19, or a negative test, has been a flashpoint for months. Critics argue the measure encroaches on personal freedoms, while supporters, including much of the medical community, say it is essential to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed and to push more Italians to get vaccinated.
Meloni, who leads a right-wing coalition government, faces an uneasy balancing act. Her Brothers of Italy party has historically been skeptical of vaccine mandates and lockdown measures, yet she has also sought to project competence and stability after taking office. In a statement released early Sunday, she said, “Demonstrating is legitimate, but degenerating into violence is unacceptable. Gangs of thugs have no right to hide behind the mask of protest.” The prime minister called on security forces to identify and prosecute those responsible for the vandalism and clashes.
Police reported that in Rome, demonstrators hurled bottles and firecrackers at officers near the central Piazza del Popolo, while in Milan, windows of several shops were smashed and garbage bins set alight. In Turin, a group of protesters tried to break through a police cordon near the city’s main square, leading to scuffles and at least a dozen reported injuries among officers and demonstrators. Italian media reported that security forces detained multiple people overnight, though official figures were not immediately released.
**Analysis**
The violence raises immediate questions about Meloni’s political strategy. While she has moderated some of her party’s anti-vaccine rhetoric since taking office, a significant portion of her voter base remains opposed to government health mandates. By condemning the violence while still acknowledging the legitimacy of peaceful protest, Meloni is attempting to walk a narrow path: avowing order and rule of law without alienating supporters who feel that COVID-era rules are excessive.
The unrest also places Italy alongside other European nations where pandemic-related anger has occasionally boiled over into street violence. From the Netherlands to France, governments have faced similar protests, but Italy’s situation is distinct because of its early and devastating experience with the virus. In the first months of the pandemic, Italy became the Western epicenter, and lockdowns were enforced with military patrols in some regions. That history has left a complex emotional and political legacy, making health policy not just a medical issue but a deeply charged national debate.
For Meloni, the immediate challenge is to prevent the protests from becoming a rallying point for far-right and anti-establishment groups beyond her control. Her coalition includes the League, led by Matteo Salvini, whose politicians have frequently voiced sympathy for vaccine skeptics. While Salvini has called for calm, he has also questioned aspects of the green pass system, creating potential friction inside the government. Meloni’s response suggests she intends to keep the focus on law and order, painting the violent minority as enemies of democracy rather than as political allies.
Another layer is economic. Italy’s post-pandemic recovery remains fragile, with inflation, energy prices and unemployment still pressing concerns. Protests and street chaos can undermine business confidence and raise the perceived risk of investing in the country. The government, which is already managing delicate negotiations over European Union recovery funds, cannot afford a prolonged period of civil unrest. That is likely why the prime minister was so quick to condemn the violence while also promising that authorities would keep pursuing vaccination campaigns and health measures through legal and institutional channels.
The coming days will test whether the protests were an isolated outburst or the beginning of a broader wave of discontent. Italian unions and civic organizations have scheduled more rallies, but many mainstream groups have distanced themselves from the violence and called for peaceful demonstrations. The police presence has been increased in major cities, and authorities have shown little tolerance for attempts to occupy public spaces by force. Still, the underlying anger over health restrictions, economic hardship and political alienation remains. If the government fails to address those grievances, the street could become a recurring arena of confrontation.
**Fontes**
Informações baseadas em declarações públicas da primeira-ministra Giorgia Meloni, reportagens da agência de notícias italiana ANSA, da RAI News e de veículos internacionais como Reuters e Associated Press, que acompanharam os protestos em Roma, Milão e Turim entre a noite de sábado e a madrugada de domingo.