Politics · Italy · 8 hrs ago
Schlein urges Meloni to address rising costs and protests
Elly Schlein called on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to respond to rising costs in remarks to Italy’s Chamber of Deputies.
She said fuel, living and housing costs are putting pressure on people across the country.
Schlein said farmers, truck drivers and fishers in southern Italy are protesting because they can no longer afford fuel.
She also pointed to students who have pitched tents in cities, including near parliament in Rome.
Schlein condemned recent violence and expressed support for police officers, but said violence should not be used to silence peaceful protesters.
She argued that a response based only on repression is ineffective and urged Meloni to explain what her government will do.
Elly Schlein called on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to explain how her government would respond to rising fuel, living and rent costs.
Schlein said farmers, truck drivers and fishers across southern Italy were protesting because they could no longer afford to fill their vehicles.
She also asked how the government would respond to students who had pitched tents in cities, starting in Piazza Montecitorio.
Schlein condemned serious acts of violence and expressed support for police officers.
She said violence should not be used to silence peaceful protesters and argued that a purely repressive response was ineffective.
- Who
- Elly Schlein called on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to respond.
- What
- Schlein urged Meloni to address rising costs and protests and said violence should not be used to silence peaceful demonstrators.
- When
- October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Schlein spoke in the Chamber of Deputies in Italy. Protests were reported across southern Italy and in cities including Rome.
- Why
- Schlein said rising fuel, living and rent costs were making it difficult for people to get by.
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- Speaker
- Elly Schlein
- Government leader addressed
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- Location of speech
- Chamber of Deputies
- Protest location
- Piazza Montecitorio, among other cities
- Cost concerns
- Fuel, living costs and rents
What people are saying
The prime minister Giorgia Meloni must go to Parliament to explain how she intends to respond to rising fuel costs, the cost of living and rising rents that are bringing the country to a standstill.
There are farmers, truck drivers and fishers across the South protesting because they can no longer afford to fill up.
Do not use violent people to silence the voices of tens of thousands of people across Italy who are peacefully telling you that in this country they can no longer make ends meet.
A purely repressive response is ineffective.