Meloni sends army to Milan and toughens penalties after cost-of-living riots

Italy's far-right government under Giorgia Meloni is deploying 500 soldiers to Milan's streets and creating a new crime of violent protest participation with up to five years in prison, following weekend riots over the rising cost of living. The military reinforcement, approved Tuesday and lasting until year-end, aims to prevent looting and secure free commerce, though soldiers will not have police powers. The measure has sparked internal government tensions, with Defense Minister Guido Crosetto criticizing the announcement, and opposition parties accusing the executive of militarizing the city. The new penal package also establishes immediate criminal liability for minors aged 14-18 involved in violent acts and allows police chiefs to issue warnings and meeting bans to youth with violent records. The Milan protests, part of broader European unrest over economic insecurity and inequality, led to 271 arrests, with four detainees aged 18-21 ordered to prison.