Large-scale strike in Italy protests Meloni’s budget plans

A large-scale strike began in Italy on Friday to protest the budget plans of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government.

The work stoppages are primarily affecting the public sector, including schools, hospitals and the postal service. Local transport is also affected in some cities.

The protest – described as a “general strike” by trade unions – is directed against the Meloni government’s draft budget.

Italy’s largest trade union confederation CGIL believes that the plans would “worsen people’s living and working conditions and affect workers, pensioners, young people and women.”

Despite allocating new spending of €18 billion ($21.2 billion), CGIL argues that healthcare, schools, care for the elderly, affordable housing and local transport are not adequately prioritized in the budget.

Meloni has been in power in Rome for three years at the head of a coalition of three far-right and conservative parties.

According to media reports, the budget will be discussed in the Chamber of Deputies next week, and must be approved by both chambers of parliament by the end of the year.