ITALY: Students and union members launch protests and strikes on Mario Monti's first day as head of government

Record ID: 340561

  • Title: ITALY: Students and union members launch protests and strikes on Mario Monti's first day as head of government
  • Date: 18th November 2011
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (NOVEMBER 17, 2011) (REUTERS) THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WALKING THROUGH STREETS STUDENT HOLDING RED FLARE VARIOUS STUDENTS MARCHING (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) STUDENT SALVATORE CORIZZA SAYING: "We are on the streets because we want to underline the contradictions that are between the fall of Berlusconi government and the rise of the Monti government. This new gover
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy, Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACB72GTK2I7ADKA7Q8D5UMOOFB
  • Story Text: Students and trade unionists took to the streets of Rome in protest on Thursday (November 17) as newly appointed Prime Minister Mario Monti prepared to outline austerity measure's to Italy's parliament.
    Italy's students started gathering in central Rome in the morning, and planned to meet up with Independent Workers Union members "COBAS" for joint protests against budget cuts, as Monti prepared to address the upper house of parliament.
    Salvatore Corizza, a University student who joined the march, said he was sceptical that the change in government would help normal Italians.
    "We are on the streets because we want to underline the contradictions that are between the fall of Berlusconi government and the rise of the Monti government. This new government will not do anything to improve our social situation and the bad things there are in the country. And every day the students and workers are suffering," he said.
    Though Monti starts his first full day as prime minister comforted by an opinion poll that said an overwhelming majority of Italians supported him, the unfolding day indicated and outlined the problems looming ahead of him and the new government.
    "We are not convinced that our governmental change is fundamental. This government is maybe more 'presentable', its ministers are more professional than those of (former prime minister Silvio) Berlusconi. But the policies towards the destruction of welfare and making the workers, or victims, rather than the those responsible, pay for the crisis. These policies are the same for Berlusconi and Monti," COBAS Union Member and a teacher Giuliano Sanforte said with frustration.
    With Italy at the heart of the euro zone debt crisis, the measures Monti announces are unlikely to be enough on their own to rebuild shattered market confidence or even the confidence of the Italian society.
    But they will be vital to restoring credibility with international partners who had long lost patience with the repeatedly unfulfilled promises of Monti's flamboyant predecessor Berlusconi.
    Meanwhile Monti will have to work hard in his own country to unite politicians and entire Italian society in order to fix the accumulated problems.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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