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In Italy, demonstrations against Corona’s policy have taken place in several cities since the weekend: there were riots and devastation. Who is involved in the protests?
By Jörg Seisselberg, ARD Studio Rome
In the center of Turin, the consequences of the riots are still evident. “I could cry for the vandalism of certain people. It is not a demonstration, it is a crime,” says an older passerby.
Broken glass on a shopping street, some shops have even been looted. The newspaper “La Repubblica” writes about scenes similar to the civil war in Turin.
But also in Milan and Naples, Trieste and Lecce, Pescara and Catania, protests against the government’s Covid-19 decrees have turned into violence in recent days. In addition to restaurant and bar owners, far-right groups like Forza Nuova had mobilized in the capital, Rome. They set off fireworks and attacked the police officers.
Rights promise to be popular
Sociologist Lorenzo Zamponi, a professor at the elite SNS university in Florence, says: “There is a very strong attempt by far-right groups to jump on the bandwagon of widespread discontent and, in some way, become representatives of these protests.”
The government is alarmed by the unrest nationwide. Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese has asked city police prefects to be especially vigilant. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte expresses understanding and respect for the peaceful protests, but in the face of the riots he warns of violent criminals “professionals” who infiltrated: “There are groups that try to fuel disputes. Those who go out to demonstrate must have beware of infiltration “.
These attempts to instrumentalize peaceful protests exist, confirms the sociologist Zamponi. Violent soccer ultras also participated in the riots.
“The scissors of inequality are widening”
At the same time, Zamponi warns that the excesses of violence of recent nights in Italy should not only be attributed to organized groups. The young losers of the crisis, mobilized through social media, were also present: “In a way, these riots express widespread frustration and anger. All the socio-economic data show that the social gap of inequality has still widened. more as a result of the crisis. We are also talking about representatives of a subproletariat in the suburbs who express an anger that obviously exists. “
In the protests, according to Zamponi, these young and violent losers of the crisis are standing next to a middle class frustrated by anti-crown measures: restaurant owners and other small business owners who are losing their livelihoods.
Zamponi sees parallels with French yellow vests
In general, there is a mixture of people on the street in Italy, says the Florentine sociologist, reminiscent of the so-called yellow vest movement in France. Zamponi does not believe that small far-right parties like Forza Nuova will gain prominence as a result of the unrest.
“But I think that the so-called institutional right can benefit. Because traditionally it is close to the social groups that are currently protesting. And it has adopted much of the content of the radical right. I am thinking of the Lega of Matteo Salvini or the Fratelli d’Italia party of Giorgia “. Meloni. You will try to become the spokesperson for these protests and take advantage of the increasing unpopularity of the government. “
Also to counter this growing dissatisfaction, Conte yesterday pledged billions in aid for small businesses and their employees that are affected by the current restrictions. The 27 billion euros in crisis aid from the EU’s short-time work program, received yesterday in Rome from Brussels, is also intended to help alleviate social concerns in the country.
