Andrea Innocenti The last few days have seen a new wave of truck blockades , once again paralyzing the distribution of essential goods across much of Southern Italy. Although some truckers' associations have spontaneously called off the protests, the Strike Guarantee Commission has deemed it necessary to intervene to protect the health, safety, and freedom of movement of citizens.
The measure was formalized at the Naples Prefecture , where Prefect Michele di Bari participated in a roundtable discussion with institutional and business representatives. The stated objective is "to adopt the measures and provisions necessary to ensure the immediate resumption of deliveries of basic necessities and essential services for the country," as stated in the Commission's statement.
Guarantee Commission reports constitutional threat
The Commission's document, drafted pursuant to Article 13, paragraph 1, letter f, of Law No. 146 of 1990, emphasizes that the persistence of roadblocks constitutes a serious and imminent threat to constitutional rights. In particular, freedom of movement, consumer safety, and access to essential goods have been jeopardized by interventions that violate the Transport Sector Self-Regulation Code .
The Commission also noted that, although some organizations have shown a sense of responsibility by revoking the initiatives, the spread of the protests remains "unsustainable" and is worsening the shortage of fuel, already costing €2,3/liter on highways, and food products in supermarkets.
Situation on the territory: from Campania to Molise
The critical point is concentrated mainly in Campania , where 95% of gas pumps are empty and service stations are no longer able to dispense fuel. At the same time, the chain of stopped trucks stretched for more than 48 hours along state road 85, between Venafro and Sesto Campano , creating a veritable logistical bottleneck.
The garrison in Roccaravindola and the end in Venafro
The first roadblock was set up in Roccaravindola on October 19, before moving to Venafro , where the truck drivers received a warm welcome from the local population. After intensive discussions with trade associations, the protest gradually ended, with the trucks resuming their movement towards Sesto Campano . In Molise , law enforcement monitored the situation without incident, but tensions remain high.
Meanwhile, the region has faced further repercussions: schools and universities have suffered disruptions. The University of Salerno suspended classes and exams for an entire day, citing "continuing fuel supply difficulties."
Institutional responses and requests from the Guarantor
Faced with this emergency, the Strike Guarantee Commission has requested the competent authorities to issue a precept, or order to cease blockades, to ensure the continued movement of goods. The Guarantor reiterated that the situation "generates a serious and imminent danger of violation of citizens' constitutional rights," emphasizing the need for rapid action.
At the same time, the government passed an emergency decree, allocating €106 million to the road haulage sector, €60 million to agricultural diesel, and €10 million to fishing. However, trade associations criticized the measure, calling it a "hot stopgap" that would only temporarily quell the protests, failing to address the structural issue of fuel prices.
The key demands remain: reducing excise duties on diesel, using VAT revenues from fuel to lower pump prices, and providing more substantial liquidity support for transport companies. Without these measures, the risk of further shutdowns and growing shortages of essential goods persists.