Italy prepares to send 500 troops to Milan after weekend clashes, with cabinet set to consider temporary policing powers

Italy is preparing to deploy 500 troops to Milan after looting and clashes between police and mostly young protesters left dozens of officers injured and hundreds of people detained over the weekend. A cabinet meeting on Tuesday is expected to authorize the deployment and give soldiers temporary policing powers to support law enforcement.

Luxury stores in the city, described in the post as a fashion hub, remain closed or have tightened security ahead of further protests expected on Saturday. Protests across Italy, led by high school and university students, farmers and truck drivers, are driven primarily by the rising cost of living and pose a major challenge for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government ahead of elections next year.

Meloni said protesting is a right, but “laying cities to waste is not.” Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini condemned the clashes as shameful. The government is also considering wider measures, including restrictions on public gatherings, relaxed rules for detaining minors and harsher sanctions for their parents.