Italy’s leaders condemn protest violence as police face clashes in multiple cities

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed solidarity with police after clashes during protests in several Italian cities, condemning organized groups that exploit demonstrations to create chaos and violence. She affirmed support for law enforcement protecting citizens' right to live without fear. Left-wing leaders Nicola Fratoianni and Angelo Bonelli of Avs also condemned the violence but raised questions about the protests' organizers, citing an unknown group called "Italia in piazza" that called for the rallies. Bonelli accused the right of exploiting the incidents to attack his party, urging the Interior Ministry to identify the perpetrators. The clashes occurred during demonstrations on Saturday, with the majority of protesters described as peaceful. Bonelli rejected accusations that his party instigated the violence, calling such claims "ignoble" and emphasizing that violent actors are adversaries who undermine legitimate protest causes.