During an election tour in Umbria, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini condemned Italy’s social centers following recent clashes between anti-establishment protesters and police in Bologna. “Today, I will ask the Interior Minister for an immediate review of all unlawfully occupied social centers in Italy to begin shutting them down one by one. These centers must be closed and sealed,” Salvini declared. Referring to the violent incidents as criminal acts rather than protest, Salvini stressed his commitment to moving from “words to actions.”
In Bologna, posters depicting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and University Minister Anna Maria Bernini with blood-stained hands appeared, heightening tensions as Mayor Matteo Lepore criticized the national government. “Instead of sending us funds for flood relief, they’ve sent 300 blackshirts,” Lepore stated, suggesting a disproportionate police presence ahead of Meloni’s visit. He also blamed the Ministry of Interior for mishandling public order, questioning the choice to allow far-right groups like CasaPound to assemble during a sensitive period.
The Interior Ministry responded, clarifying that Bologna’s local security committee had not requested a ban on the rally, nor had the ministry intervened to override any local decisions. The Bologna police headquarters also issued a statement, denying any undue influence from the far-right groups on their crowd management strategies and describing their actions as standard practice for ensuring the peaceful conduct of demonstrations.
Meanwhile, Salvini posted a video from Perugia, repeating his calls to close unlawfully occupied social centers and describing protesters as “delinquents.” His video quickly gained traction online, with many supporters echoing his stance. Social media comments varied, from some users calling for strong police intervention against protestors to others condemning what they saw as unchecked hate speech.
In contrast to the wave of supportive comments, some social media users offered dissenting views, with one pointing out that anti-Semitic threats originated from far-right groups. Others questioned Salvini’s focus, urging him to address issues in Italy’s public transport system. Amid the polarized responses, a former acquaintance teased Salvini by recalling their shared past at the left-wing Leoncavallo social center, highlighting the complexity of Italy’s political landscape and the deep-rooted divisions within it.
