Italy protests erupt over electoral reforms and antisemitism bill

Protests have erupted across various Italian cities, targeting the Meloni government over social conditions, electoral reforms, and proposed legislation regarding antisemitism.

In Rome, demonstrators expressed distrust in the government, citing rising living costs, stagnant wages, and proposed changes to electoral laws that they claim could marginalize independent political forces. In Bologna, a large march involving activists and unions blocked major roads to protest state violence and express solidarity with Palestine.

A significant point of contention is the proposed antisemitism bill currently under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies. Critics, including Amnesty International Italia and various Palestinian community groups, argue that adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism risks conflating political criticism of Israel and Zionism with hate speech. Protesters claim the law could be used to suppress dissent and limit freedom of expression in universities and schools.

In Milan, political figures have also weighed in, with calls to suspend municipal twinning agreements with Tel Aviv until the city takes a clearer stance on the conflict in Gaza.