Over a thousand demonstrators gathered in Perugia on October 30, 2026, to participate in a protest march organized as part of a national general strike called by the Union of Base Syndicates (Usb). The mobilization primarily involved students who took to the streets to oppose rising living costs, high rents, fuel prices, low wages, and what they describe as a war economy. Leading the procession was a banner held by students reading, "Against war, cost of living, and repression: tear away their future."
The march began in Piazza Partigiani before moving through the historic center and the university district, eventually reaching Fontivegge station. This route was chosen to highlight key locations symbolizing education and public transport issues. Throughout the demonstration, protesters carried signs demanding that the government lower prices, energy tariffs, rents, and mortgages while increasing salaries to match the rising cost of living. A central demand echoed by the crowd was a call to stop the war.
During a brief stop in Piazza IV Novembre in the heart of Perugia's historic center, demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Lower your weapons and raise wages." Another banner displayed the message, "Without public services there are no rights; no to the war economy." Gianluca Liviabella, the Usb representative for Umbria, addressed the crowd, stating that the protest was against a war economy strangling the population and the repression of young people and workers seeking better living conditions.
Liviabella emphasized that the youth present were not those breaking windows but those marching peacefully. He criticized governments for allocating excessive resources to military spending while leaving insufficient funds for healthcare, education, and other public services. The representative described the current mobilization as an international call for change, noting that such a movement is unprecedented in the history of the labor movement.
Sources: ANSA Politica.