Italian Mayors Demand Economic Action as Protests Spread

Nine center-left mayors requested an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday, urging economic solutions to address nationwide protests that have resulted in 36 injured police officers and widespread property damage. The mayors of Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, and five other cities condemned the violence but stressed that lasting answers require addressing purchasing power, jobs, and essential services. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi warned that illegal behavior will face judicial consequences. Former police chief Franco Gabrielli cautioned that arresting an arsonist does not eliminate the underlying youth anger, calling the investigative success an "irresponsible illusion" if treated as a solution. Authorities have identified over 4,000 people and detained nearly 400, including about 100 minors.