Poor Economy Sparks Protests in Italy

October 20, 2011

Discontent runs high in Italy among the population due to the country's economic difficulties. This led to massive protests over the weekend attended by tens of thousands of demonstrators

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It was meant to be a peaceful effort to voice unhappiness over the government's failure to provide concrete responses to existing problems. But soon extremist elements infiltrated the demonstrators, turning their anger into violence.

The streets of Rome saw scenes of urban guerrilla warfare that they had not witnessed in years.

Italy has Europe's second highest debt burden after Greece. Unemployment is high. Young and old find it very difficult to make ends meet.

Many students feel they have no prospects, no future. Among them is Camilla Polimadei, 17.

"I am worried about the fact the at the moment the way things are going I should no longer even bother studying because what's the point? I'll end up working as a hairdresser even if I get a degree," said Polimadei. "I don't want a future like this. I want a future that I earn what I want to become."

Her father is equally discontented.

"Politics do not do the interests of the population," he said. "Politics does its own private interests, especially this government. We have seen it at all levels with the corruption and bad management. And those who pay for all this are citizens who pay their taxes and do not know where the money goes and where it is being invested."