THE ITALIAN JOBLESS

Italy was inundated by student protesters rallying against educational reforms on Tuesday (30th), aka ‘Block Everything Day’.

Roads were blocked, railways shut and fights broke out as the students hit the streets. The previous week students had occupied The Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The call to the streets this week was to coincide with the voting on the contested reform bill by the lower parliament. It is still to be approved by the Senate.

Thousands of protesters marched through Rome on route to Parliament bearing banners and shouting with gusto. At the sight of Parliament they started throwing eggs, vegetables, bottles, smoke bombs, fireworks and anything with projectile qualities they could get their hands on. Riot police used tear gas and police vans to stop protesters reaching their goal. At one point the rioters tried to overturn a police van.

In Naples the recent rubbish debacle was put to good use as protesters adorned the streets with trash and bin bags especially outside government buildings.PM Silvio Berlusconi, under fire for his party hard lifestyle and sucking up to Vladimir ‘Batman’ Putin, easily brushed it all off, stating that serious students weren’t involved as they were all at home studying. Mamma mia!