Meloni's Crackdown on Protests Sparks Fears of Growing Repression in Italy

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been working to present a moderate image to the European political establishment, but her government’s recent crackdown on protests has raised alarms about the country’s shift towards more authoritarian governance. A new "security bill," passed by the lower house of the Italian parliament in mid-September, targets climate activists and criminalizes the obstruction of roads and railways, with penalties of up to two years in prison. Critics argue that, if the Senate approves the bill, it could effectively ban peaceful street protests in Italy.

 

 

This legislative move follows a series of actions by Meloni’s government to deter protest activities, particularly in response to climate demonstrations that have drawn international attention. The government had already imposed harsh penalties for damaging artworks, raising fines to €60,000 after activists targeted Rome's Trevi Fountain and Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus.” These tougher measures aim to prevent disruptions like those seen during the G7 demonstrations in Turin earlier this year, where protesters blocked highways and burned photos of world leaders. The bill also extends prison sentences for those resisting the police and increases the punishment for inmates participating in hunger strikes, leading some to call it the "anti-Gandhi" law.

 

Despite these criticisms, Nicola Molteni, Undersecretary for the Interior Ministry, defended the government’s approach. In a statement to POLITICO, he argued that the current administration has done more to protect the right to protest than previous ones, stating, “This government has never denied permission for or banned any protest unless it risked putting in danger the public order of our country.” He emphasized that the right to protest must not interfere with the rights of others, including the ability to work, access transportation, or receive emergency services. “This enters in a perimeter of illegality that cannot be tolerated,” Molteni said.

 

However, as Meloni faces mounting political challenges—such as budget negotiations, coalition disagreements, and looming regional elections—her critics accuse her of using the protest crackdown as a diversionary tactic. Laura Boldrini, a former speaker and current MP for the center-left Democratic Party, expressed concern about the government's trajectory, stating, “This government is drifting in a repressive direction, limiting peaceful protest and dissent and pushing Italy in a direction outside the perimeter of a liberal democracy, toward a democraship in the style of Orbán.”

 

 

The focus on security has been a key element of Meloni's tenure since she took office in 2022. One of her government’s first legislative moves was to crack down on illegal raves, with organizers facing up to six years in prison. Since then, Meloni’s administration has introduced measures that make it easier to imprison teenagers, pregnant women, and mothers with newborns, while also instituting automatic detention for migrants. Additionally, the government has rolled back reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights by allowing pro-life organizations into abortion clinics, banning surrogacy, and refusing to issue birth certificates for the children of same-sex couples.

 

 

Human rights organizations have expressed concern about these developments. Antigone, an association that advocates for the rights of incarcerated individuals, criticized the government’s reliance on the penal system to address social issues. “The government has decided to manage social issues in the most illiberal possible way, using the penal system, rather than [using] dialogue, and resources, that you would expect in a democracy with the rule of law,” the group said.

 

Meloni has been unapologetic about her focus on security, declaring it her top priority ahead of the security bill’s introduction. Molteni explained that security is essential for fostering economic growth and investment and for protecting vulnerable populations such as the elderly. However, environmental activists feel particularly targeted by the government’s crackdown.

 

Climate campaigners have been labeled “eco vandals,” and Italy's powerful anti-mafia investigative units have been used to monitor their activities. Giacomo Baggio, a member of the Last Generation climate protest group, is currently facing a curfew and a ban on leaving his city pending a hearing, after he filed a complaint against the police for assault during a protest.

 

Based on a report from: Politico 2024-10-02

 

 

 

[blazes]

I am sure that citizens of many countries, reading this, can only lament that they do not have a leader of the same intellect, determination and sheer common sense as Giorgia.