Student Protests Erupt in Italy Amidst Rising Costs and Education Concerns
Thousands of students took to the streets across Italy, clashing with police over worsening school conditions, the high cost of living, and increased defense spending.
Student protests have spread across Italy, with thousands of demonstrators clashing with police in cities nationwide. The protests, which echo similar unrest in France and Belgium, highlight concerns over the state of education, the rising cost of living, and national budget priorities.
In Rome, protesters marched towards the Ministry of Education, throwing firecrackers and smoke bombs and chanting for the education minister, Giuseppe Valditara, to resign. Local media reported that some demonstrators erected barricades using rubbish bins. Rome police stated they were reviewing video footage to identify individuals involved in violent acts, emphasizing that the actions of a minority did not disrupt public order management.
Similar demonstrations occurred in Genoa, where protesters threw eggs at posters bearing the faces of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Minister Valditara. In Turin, police deployed water cannons against protesters who responded by throwing rocks. Thousands marched to the Regional School Office in Turin, where they set a cardboard tank ablaze to protest defense spending. Teachers were observed acting as human shields between students and police.
Reports from Treviso indicated that students at Canova High School climbed out of windows and over school gates to join the protests, with claims that school authorities attempted to prevent their participation. In Bari, students voiced grievances about poor schooling conditions, juxtaposing them with what they described as increased funding for "warmongering."
Demonstrators articulated their concerns in a statement, citing "dilapidated buildings, cancelled school assemblies, and a lack of spaces for social interaction and democracy" in their schools. They attributed these issues to funds being diverted from education, universities, and healthcare towards the defense sector.
Official NATO data indicates a year-on-year increase in Italy's defense spending since 2019. In 2025, the defense budget exceeded €45 billion, a nearly 40% increase from 2024. Concurrently, education spending as a percentage of GDP decreased from 4.3% in 2024 to 4.1% in 2025.
Beyond education and cost of living issues, many Italian protesters called for a cap on foreign student numbers. Others specifically targeted the nation's defense budget, advocating for the reallocation of funds to education.
The protests in Italy coincide with broader demonstrations planned in France over the cost of living, raising concerns about potential convergence between various social movements. The French Yellow Vest movement has called for joint "yellow and youth" demonstrations, appealing to a wide range of groups including teachers, workers, pensioners, farmers, and students. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has established a crisis cell to monitor these anticipated demonstrations, expressing concerns about potential clashes.