Andrea Innocenti On October 17, the streets of central Rome hosted one of the largest national demonstrations in recent months. Organized by the CGIL (Italian General Confederation of Labour) and over one hundred secular and Catholic organizations adhering to the "Via Maestra" (Main Street), the assembly attracted more than one hundred thousand participants who marched from the starting point in Piazza della Repubblica to Piazza del Popolo, supporting a program that ranged from work to peace , including the environment , welfare , and defense of the Constitution.
The procession from the Republic to the People: numbers and route
The rally began at 13:30 PM in front of the majestic Palazzo delle Finanze, where an initial speech kicked off the march. After about three hours of marching, the crowd reached Piazza del Popolo around 17:00 PM, where a stage was set up and a series of speeches were given.
The presence of young people, workers, teachers, farmers, and truck drivers gave the procession a cross-sectional dimension, highlighting the desire to unite the various social struggles under a single banner.
The demands at the heart of the manifesto
Wages, work and gender equality
Among the first demands are an increase in wages and pensions, together with the elimination of fixed-term contracts and the fight against poor work.
The protesters also stressed the need to close the pay gap between women and men, calling for concrete measures to achieve gender equality in the labor market.
A fairer tax system
The program includes combating tax evasion , reducing the burden on wages and pensions, and introducing more progressive taxation . Stricter taxes on extra profits, income, and large fortunes are called for , ensuring that those with more money contribute more.
Healthcare, education and housing rights
The demands also include funding public healthcare at 7,5% of GDP and education at 5%. They call for hiring new staff, reducing waiting lists, and ensuring quality services throughout the country. Regarding housing access , the proposal includes a new "Housing Plan" offering public and social housing, improving energy efficiency in the housing stock, and ensuring the safety of existing buildings.
Green work and opposition to rearmament
The "Via Maestra" document promotes an industrial policy capable of combining job growth and ecological transition, integrating the concerns of industry, energy, mobility, agriculture, and land protection . At the same time, it expresses a clear rejection of increased military spending in favor of active diplomacy, international cooperation, and disarmament.
Interventions by political protagonists
During the demonstration, CGIL General Secretary Maurizio Landini drew attention to the Pope's message , calling it an "almost unique voice" for an unarmed peace . Landini warned of a cultural risk: the replacement of diplomacy with war, recalling that without democratic policies, there are no rights or social justice. He also criticized the government for its push for differentiated autonomy and the potential erosion of the Constitution, describing the project of a "Third Republic" as an authoritarian threat.
Democratic Party Secretary Elly Schlein emphasized the importance of youth participation, declaring that the protesters are the present rather than the future. She highlighted the government's lack of concrete responses on issues such as the cost of living, energy, and transportation, calling for an end to the criminalization of dissent and the adoption of constitutional priorities: increased healthcare spending, reduced military spending.
Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte greeted Landini from the stage, emphasizing the need for broader social dialogue and the need to defend democracy through active citizen participation.
In other cities, such as Milan, the demonstration was met with violence: a barrage of stones at police on Via Broletto damaged historic buildings, and firecrackers and fireworks were thrown. The incident confirmed the variety of settings in which the protests unfolded, but in Rome the message remained peaceful and organized.
The day concluded with a final assembly in Piazza del Popolo, where it was reiterated that defending the Constitution remains at the heart of every demand, as does promoting a more equitable, supportive, and environmentally friendly society.