Demonstrations against newly announced measures and the vaccination campaign due to the coronavirus epidemic turned into serious disturbances in Rome on Saturday night.
According to news agency reports, thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Rome and clashed with the police several times. In some places, the police sent to the scene tried to control the enraged crowd with rubber batons, pepper spray and water cannons. The demonstrators tried to break through the police cordons, throwing pieces of furniture and firecrackers at the police.
In the early evening hours, the protesters stormed the headquarters of the largest Italian trade union, CGIL, in Rome , attacked the guards and police with sticks and flagpoles, and then pushed their way into the building.
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, four people were detained during the protests.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi condemned the acts of violence and emphasized that trade unions are the guarantors of democracy and workers' rights, and that all attempts at intimidation against them must be severely punished. Maurizio Landini, the general secretary of CGIL, called what happened "an organized fascist act, an attack on democracy and the business world" and said that no one can return the country to the fascist era.
As is well known, from October 15 in Italy, public and private sector workers must have a protection certificate. Otherwise, they will be suspended from their jobs without pay, but they cannot be fired . The new measure has caused criticism, even though it is necessary because of the relaxations that will come into effect from Monday. Because from tomorrow, the restrictions on the number of spectators in cinemas and theaters will be lifted, as well as precautions will be eased in sports facilities thanks to the favorable development of the epidemic indicators, despite the fact that more than 15 percent of the population has not yet received a single vaccination. Cinemas, theaters and concert halls can once again operate at full capacity, but spectators must present proof of protection. They must continue to wear the mouth mask, but the safety distance of at least one meter between each other will no longer be observed.
Spectators can occupy 75 percent of the seats in open stadiums, and closed sports halls can operate with 60 percent of their capacity. In the closed rooms of discotheques, fifty percent of the possible number of guests can be accommodated, and in open-air entertainment venues, 75 percent. Proof of protection is also mandatory in the latter cases. In discotheques, the mouth mask can only be removed during dancing and drinking, in entertainment venues adequate air exchange must be ensured. In the case of a first violation, the operator is fined, and for a second violation, he risks being closed for ten days.
Source: hirado.hu
