Teen rallies take to the streets across Italy

Rome is set to witness student demonstrations on Friday as part of nationwide protests calling for increased funding for education and housing support. The demonstrations coincide with those by truck drivers and farmers over fuel prices, rising defense spending and the cost of living. School and university students have been occupying schools and setting up tent camps to make their demands heard for weeks.

School spokesperson Laura Teresi, 18, from Rome's Cavour high school, expressed concern over rearmament policies and the rising cost of living. Students also plan to blockade and empty schools to protest against continuous budget cuts to teaching. The protests have raised concerns about potential violence reminiscent of earlier clashes in Milan.

The radical left USB union has called for a general strike, with the Italian and European context currently marked by social, economic, and cultural malaise affecting various segments of society. The government has eased rules on detaining minors and toughened laws on public gatherings in response to the youth protests. Meloni's government has also agreed on a 175.2-million-euro aid package for those affected by fuel price hikes, with plans for additional measures in the draft 2027 budget.