Meloni: Silence on Street Violence Is Complicity

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni demanded opposition parties unequivocally condemn street violence during protests, stating that any reticence becomes justification and silence is unacceptable. She posted a video of unrest in Milan's Piazza Duomo. Meloni distinguished between the right to protest and vandalism, praising thousands who demonstrated peacefully, including at a CGIL union rally with left-wing leaders. She accused "thugs" of exploiting demonstrations to create chaos, attack security forces, and hold cities hostage. Her statement follows clashes in Italian squares, where she emphasized that participation is fundamental to democracy but stressed the need for unanimous rejection of violent scenes witnessed across the country.