- Truck drivers' protests that have seriously affected southern Italy were easing on Thursday as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government was lining up aid and taking a harder line against roadblocks.
- Since last week, hauliers have been blocking roads and motorways to protest high fuel prices.
- Police have identified 1,339 people, reported 71 to the authorities, and issued 242 administrative fines.
- The Interior Ministry ordered police escorts for trucks to keep goods moving, including 500 vehicles in the southern region of Campania alone.
- The government announced more than €1 billion in support, including €434.8 million for diesel costs and €590 million for fleet modernisation.
- Business Minister Adolfo Urso warned of criminal penalties for roadblocks, stating that preventing only lorries from passing while allowing cars through still amounts to a roadblock.
- Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida called to unblock Italy, emphasizing the need for entrepreneurs to sell their goods.
- The mayors of Naples and Bari have urged the government to intervene urgently, warning that continued disruption could bring their cities to a standstill.
- Two airports in Calabria reported fuel shortages, affecting operations and requiring airlines to arrange refueling at other airports.
- Trucker representatives said roadblocks would be lifted in Sicily following talks with the government, and protests in Calabria were suspended.
- Meloni was due to chair a cabinet meeting in Rome to approve a decree bringing together aid measures for truck drivers and farmers.
- The government dismissed as 'ridiculous' a front-page report suggesting that government headquarters in Rome were running out of toilet paper due to the truckers' blockades.
Truck drivers in southern Italy are easing protests against soaring fuel prices, as the government prepares over €1 billion in aid and implements police escorts to ensure the movement of goods. The protests have severely disrupted daily life, with supermarket shelves running empty and essential services affected.
Authorities have warned that truck drivers blocking roads could face criminal charges and prison sentences. The Interior Ministry has ordered police escorts for trucks, including 500 vehicles in Campania, to keep goods moving. Mayors of Naples and Bari have urged the government to intervene urgently, warning of a potential standstill in their cities.8
The protests have led to significant disruptions, with waste collection and public transport services affected, raising fears of rubbish piling up in the streets. Additionally, two airports in southern Italy have reported shortages of aviation fuel, impacting air travel.
In response, the government is working to ease the financial burden on the transport sector, with plans to release more than €1 billion in support, including €434.8 million to compensate hauliers for higher diesel costs. Deputy Infrastructure Minister Edoardo Rixi noted that the protests have caused severe disruption in Campania, affecting supplies to supermarkets and hospitals.
As the situation evolves, Meloni's government is expected to approve a decree to bring together aid measures for truck drivers and farmers, ensuring the distribution of essential goods, including food and medicines.
“Police have identified 1,339 people and issued 242 fines as roadblocks empty supermarket shelves and leave two Calabrian airports without fuel. The government has pledged over €1 billion, including €434.8 million for diesel costs, while Naples and Bari mayors warn of worsening disruption.”
Euronews.com
