Student protests in Florence clash with minister's visit

High tension is reported in Florence as student protests coincide with a visit by Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara and President Sergio Mattarella on Monday, October 26, 2026. A student march is planned for 1 p.m. from Piazza Santa Maria Novella, with maximum police alert. Around 700 students are expected to gather, with a similarly large police deployment. The protest targets Minister Valditara, who is scheduled to speak at Palazzo Medici Riccardi, though the venue was reportedly uncertain for security reasons until recently. Student collectives have occupied schools for a week, and no official march route has been submitted to police. Authorities fear a repeat of a protest held on Saturday, as dialogue between officials and students reportedly continued until Sunday evening.