Italy
Bombing of Turkey’s Watiya base escalates Franco-Italian proxy war in Libya
By Alex Lantier, 8 July 2020
The decade-long civil war between rival imperialist-backed warlords triggered by the 2011 NATO war in Libya is spiraling out of control.
Italy hands Fiat Chrysler a multi-billion-euro bailout
By Allison Smith, 30 June 2020
The €6 billion corporate bailout for Fiat is to be financed by social austerity targeting working people in Italy and attacks on jobs and wages at Fiat Chrysler internationally.
WHO warns of “very significant” coronavirus resurgence in Europe
By Will Morrow, 27 June 2020
The resurgence is driven by governments’ reopening policy, whose aim is the full resumption of corporate profit-making, regardless of the threat to workers.
Spike in Kawasaki-like disease linked to coronavirus in France and Italy, one child dies
By Will Morrow, 18 May 2020
This is a damning indictment of capitalist governments internationally which are reopening schools and asserting that the virus does not harm children.
Italian statistics agency reveals real coronavirus death toll is higher by 12,000
By Will Morrow, 7 May 2020
Even as the coronavirus pandemic’s scale is being covered up, Italian authorities have begun a full re-opening of the economy that will kills tens of thousands.
Euro zone economy contracts at record pace
By Nick Beams, 2 May 2020
The European Central Bank has taken the same road as the US Fed, committing itself to pump still more money across the board into the financial markets.
Europe’s pandemic death toll passes 100,000
By Robert Stevens, 20 April 2020
The five major states in Europe—Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK—account for around 85,000 of the 100,000 plus deaths.
COVID-19 deaths surpass 76,000 in Europe as Spanish government sends millions back to work
By Robert Stevens, 13 April 2020
More than 30 National Health Service workers are reported to have died as the UK’s death toll rises above 10,000.
European governments plot return to work in midst of pandemic
By Thomas Scripps, 11 April 2020
As plans were being hatched over how to impose a return to work, over 4,000 new pandemic deaths were reported in Europe on Friday, bringing the total for the continent to over 70,000.
Europe’s investors celebrate stock market rally as thousands die of COVID-19
By Jordan Shilton, 10 April 2020
While over 4,100 people died of COVID-19 yesterday, stock markets finished the week with huge gains as the ruling elite’s plan to force workers back to work emerges.
As Europe’s COVID-19 death toll nears 50,000, British PM Johnson admitted to hospital
By Robert Stevens, 6 April 2020
There is mounting evidence that fatalities are much higher when deaths outside hospitals are factored in.
Warning of food riots, Rome sends 20,000 troops to patrol southern Italy
By Allison Smith, 6 April 2020
Residents contacted by the WSWS denied that any mass food riots are taking place, even as workers in lockdown run out of money to buy food.
Unemployment surges in Europe amid COVID-19 pandemic
By Alex Lantier, 4 April 2020
The catastrophe now unfolding in Europe is rooted not in the biological properties of the coronavirus, but in the political bankruptcy of European capitalism.
“We cannot abandon the nurses”
Nurse suicides rise in Europe amid stress of COVID-19 pandemic
By Allison Smith, 31 March 2020
Last week, 34-year-old nurse Daniella Trezzi, who worked in the COVID-19 intensive care ward of San Gerardo hospital at Monza, near Milan, committed suicide.
999 Europe coronavirus update
30 March 2020
Pandemic death toll in Europe rises to 19,000 as savaged health care systems are overwhelmed
By Thomas Scripps and Alice Summers, 28 March 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is preying on Europe’s 500 million-plus population whose health care services have been decimated by years of government austerity and private sector looting.
Coronavirus in Europe: Overworked hospitals become death traps
By Gregor Link, 28 March 2020
The criminal inactivity of European governments has led to a murderous and vicious circle of overwork, infection and work absences in hospitals throughout the continent.
Death toll over 12,000 in Europe as coronavirus infections escalate
By Thomas Scripps, 25 March 2020
WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom insisted it was still possible to “change the trajectory,” but warned that governments were failing to devote the necessary resources to the crisis.
Over 620 deaths in Italy on Friday as coronavirus fatalities surge in Europe
By Robert Stevens, 21 March 2020
Italy, Spain, Belgium and the UK all recorded their largest single-day death tolls in the global coronavirus pandemic on Friday.
“There will be no solution outside an internationally coordinated effort”
Italian health care workers speak out on coronavirus pandemic
By Marc Wells, 21 March 2020
The health care system in Italy, now the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, is under unbearable strain amid an exponential increase in infections and deaths.
Italy’s death toll overtakes China’s
Coronavirus crisis cripples Italy’s health care system
By Marc Wells, 20 March 2020
Italy now counts more deaths from the coronavirus pandemic than any other country in the world.
Going into lockdown, Europe overtakes China as coronavirus epicenter
By Alex Lantier, 18 March 2020
Europe is set to soon have more coronavirus cases than China and already has seen more deaths: 3,401 people have died in Europe, and 3,226 have died in China.
The impact of the coronavirus crisis in Florence
By our reporter, 17 March 2020
The inadequacies are largely due to the constant cuts that have been made to the national health system over the last two-three decades, under every government, whether center-right or center-left.
As Europe becomes the new epicenter of pandemic
Trump administration official admits coronavirus could kill millions in US
By Benjamin Mateus, 16 March 2020
The World Health Organization has declared Europe the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, as more people have died outside China than within it.
More than 250 deaths in Italy in one day as coronavirus continues to spread
By Allison Smith, 14 March 2020
Italy is the focal point of the outbreak in Europe, which Europe is now reporting more new cases each day than China did, even at the height of its outbreak.
Wildcat strikes erupt across Italy to demand idling of plants during coronavirus pandemic
By Will Morrow and Alex Lantier, 14 March 2020
The working class, not the financial markets and their corrupt political and trade union representatives, must decide what plants run and under what conditions.
Italy’s coronavirus epidemic surges as mass layoffs announced
By Allison Smith, 12 March 2020
Not a single European Union country has responded to Italy’s appeal for desperately-needed emergency medical supplies.
Coronavirus pandemic surges across Europe
By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 11 March 2020
Thousands fell ill with coronavirus and hundreds died yesterday in Europe as the pandemic kept surging across the continent.
Prison riots erupt as Rome extends coronavirus lockdown to all of Italy
By Alex Lantier, 10 March 2020
Inmates’ families protested outside prisons against the authorities’ refusal to release prisoners or provide them with protection from contagion inside overcrowded prisons.
Italy quarantines multiple provinces as coronavirus death toll rises to 366
By Allison Smith, 9 March 2020
At least 16 million people are affected by state orders limiting public gatherings and events, as infighting spreads in ruling circles over how to halt the spread of the virus.
Cities quarantined in Italy, Iran, South Korea as coronavirus spreads globally
By Alex Lantier, 24 February 2020
Medical staff are racing to avert a deadly global pandemic, underscoring the need for a coordinated, international medical campaign to halt the spread of the disease.
Italian ruling parties defeat far-right Lega in Emilia-Romagna elections
By Peter Schwarz, 29 January 2020
While the candidate of the extreme right-wing Lega was clearly defeated in the Emilia-Romagna elections by the candidate of the Democrats, the rise of the right-wing extremists has by no means been stopped.
The significance of Italy’s Sardines movement
By Marc Wells, 25 January 2020
In less than two months, the Sardines movement, a social media initiative, has mobilized thousands of protesters against the right-wing former deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini.
23 January 2020
Italian air traffic controllers go on strike
By Marianne Arens, 17 January 2020
A strike by air traffic controllers at Italian airports brought air traffic to a halt, with travellers facing long delays.
Venice sees second worst flooding in recorded history
By Allison Smith, 19 November 2019
Massive flooding last week brought Venice, Italy to its knees, with local authorities estimating that more than 85 percent of the city is under water.
Macron, Steinmeier visit Rome to prepare new EU repression of refugees
By Alex Lantier, 20 September 2019
The removal of the neo-fascists from the Italian government has not produced any shift towards a less militaristic and anti-refugee policy.
Italy: Conte wins vote of confidence
By Marianne Arens, 12 September 2019
The Conte II cabinet will continue the previous government’s murderous refugee policy, militarisation, and austerity measures dictated by the EU and Italian banks.
Five Star-Democrat coalition government announced in Italy
By Alex Lantier, 5 September 2019
Cobbled together in backroom deals to avoid elections while continuing austerity and attacks on refugees, this government is no alternative to its far-right predecessor.
Five Star Movement and social democrats to continue attacks on Italian working class in new government coalition
By Peter Schwarz, 30 August 2019
The new government, if it is actually formed, will only accelerate the lurch of Italian politics to the right.
Italy’s Five Star populists and social democrats try to form shaky coalition government
By Mike Head, 29 August 2019
The alliance is an attempt to prevent early elections and clear the way for an austerity budget to impose deeper cuts on the working class.
Resignation of Italian Prime Minister Conte triggers government crisis
By Marianne Arens, 22 August 2019
The most important task of a new government is to present an EU-compliant budget by October 15, which will require massive cuts at the expense of the working class.
The political crisis in Italy
By Peter Schwarz, 21 August 2019
The problems and tasks facing the international working class as a whole are revealed in Italy as if under a microscope.
210 Italy
20 August 2019
Italy: Democrats, Five-Star Movement call for technocratic government
By Marianne Arens, 14 August 2019
On August 20, the Senate will hold a confidence vote on the current government, after far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini broke the governing alliance.
Italy: Salvini seeks coalition with fascist Fratelli d’Italia
By Marianne Arens, 10 August 2019
In a surprise coup, the leader of the Lega is attempting to carry out a shift to the right and to prepare fascistic forms of rule.
Alitalia workers to bear the costs of selloff of Italy’s national airline
By Marianne Arens, 3 August 2019
With the full support of the unions, Italy’s government and major investors are preparing to implement sweeping attacks on Alitalia’s workforce in the name of retaining the company as a “national airline.”
German captain of refugee rescue ship Sea Watch 3 arrested in Italy
By Marianne Arens, 1 July 2019
A few hours after the arrest, mayor of Naples Luigi di Magistris dedicated a sailing boat parade to the brave captain “and all other men and women being unfairly persecuted.”
Italy: Captain in court for saving people in distress at sea
By Marianne Arens, 20 June 2019
Pia Klemp, who has rescued about 5,000 people in distress in a total of six missions, faces up to 20 years imprisonment and heavy fines.
European Union threatens to sanction Italy over budget deficit
By Peter Schwarz, 14 June 2019
The dispute over Italy’s state debt has flared up once again following the European elections.
Right-wing Italian authorities threaten migrant rescuer with 20 years in prison
By Allison Smith, 9 April 2019
Miguel Roldán Espinosa, a Spanish firefighter, is under criminal investigation and faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence.
Fascists mount pogrom against Roma population in Italy
By Marianne Arens, 6 April 2019
The fascists, who feel emboldened by the Italian government, enjoy little support among the population.
Fiction and reality: The Italian Five-Star Movement’s citizen income scheme
By Marianne Arens, 22 March 2019
The “reddito di cittadinanza” (citizen income) is a vanity project of the co-governing Five-Star Movement that will not change Italy’s stark social inequality.
Milan, Italy: 200,000 march against racism
By Marianne Arens, 11 March 2019
Some 200,000 people demonstrated last Saturday in Milan against the right-wing coalition government, which closes ports to immigrant vessels and lets people drown in the Mediterranean.
French-Italian proxy war in Libya
By Marianne Arens, 26 February 2019
There are concrete material interests behind the sharp tensions between France and Italy, which in February led to France recalling its ambassador in Rome.
Italy: Mass demonstration in Rome against right-wing government
By Marianne Arens, 14 February 2019
The march was supported by workers, retirees and school students who want to fight the government’s right-wing policies. But the union leaders, Democratic Party representatives and pseudo-left politicians lent the rally a pro-business orientation.
France recalls its ambassador to Italy
By Alex Lantier, 8 February 2019
The decision to recall the French ambassador to Italy points to an accelerating collapse of relations between the major imperialist powers of Europe.
Bolivia’s Morales and Brazil’s Bolsonaro collaborate in rendition of Cesare Battisti to Italy
By Bill Van Auken, 16 January 2019
Bolivia’s role in what amounted to an extra-judicial rendition is emblematic of the sharp rightward turn of what remains of Latin America’s “Pink Tide” governments.
Israel rolls out the welcome mat for Europe’s neo-fascists
By Bill Van Auken, 14 December 2018
Netanyahu’s hailing of Italy’s far-right Interior Minister Salvini as a “great friend of Israel” demonstrates the affinity between the Zionist state and neo-fascism.
Black Friday strikes hit Amazon in Europe
By our reporters, 24 November 2018
Amazon workers launched strikes and protests in Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, France and the UK.
Budget dispute between Italy and EU escalates
By Peter Schwarz, 22 November 2018
If the financial markets impose further interest-rate increases on Italian government bonds, it could lead to a chain reaction of bank bankruptcies across the whole of Europe.
Protests and strikes signal mounting hostility toward Italian government
By Allison Smith, 1 November 2018
A protest against deteriorating conditions in Rome followed on the heels of a 24-hour “Black Friday” general strike by public sector workers.
European Commission rejects Italy’s 2019 budget
By Alexandre Lantier and Marianne Arens, 24 October 2018
The EU’s first-ever decision to formally strike down the budget of a member state points to growing class and international tensions tearing the EU apart.
European Union and Rome fight over Italian budget
By Marianne Arens, 20 October 2018
In the conflict over the Italian budget, the EU Commission takes the side of the banks, stock exchanges and credit agencies, while the government pursues a course of militarism and attacks on immigrants and workers.
Italian Interior Minister Salvini orders removal of migrants from Riace
By Marianne Arens, 19 October 2018
The right-wing coalition government has ordered the removal of all migrants from the “village of hospitality” in southern Calabria.
050 Italy
18 October 2018
Italy: Arrest of Riace mayor sparks protests
By Allison Smith, 10 October 2018
The arrest of Domenico Lucano, the mayor of a small town in the Calabria region of Italy, sparked pro-immigrant protests across Italy this past weekend.
Anticapitalistas in Spain’s Podemos debate orienting to far-right Italian regime
By Alejandro López, 20 September 2018
While weakly criticising applause from Podemos of the Salvini government’s policies, the Pabloites are only concerned that it would expose them to criticism from the left.
Italian officials received prior warnings of catastrophic bridge collapse in Genoa
By Allison Smith and Marc Wells, 20 September 2018
The government and private bridge operator received repeated warnings about the bridge’s structural integrity.
Top Spanish pseudo-lefts hail Italian neo-fascist government
By Alejandro López, 18 September 2018
Weeks after Sahra Wagenknecht launched the anti-immigrant #Aufstehen movement, figures in Podemos are discussing alliances with right-wing forces.
Turkish lira crisis renews fears of Italian banking system collapse
By Allison Smith, 5 September 2018
Italy’s largest banks are heavily exposed to Turkey’s economy through nearly €20 billion in loans, many of which are going into default.
Italy’s far-right interior minister charged with kidnapping
By Marianne Arens, 30 August 2018
The state attorney in Agrigento is investigating Italy’s interior minister and chairman of the Lega (League), Matteo Salvini, on charges of deprivation of liberty, illegal detention and abuse of office.
25 August 2018
Political recriminations as death toll rises in Genoa bridge collapse
By Marianne Arens, 17 August 2018
Leaders of the right-wing coalition government of Lega and the FiveStars Movement rushed to the city to pretend concern for the victims ofthe tragedy.
Vehicle crashes claim lives of 16 migrant workers in Italy
By Allison Smith, 17 August 2018
The deadly vehicle crashes—caused by sheer greed for profit at the expense of the labourers—are linked to the extremely right-wing course of the government in Rome.
At least 35 killed in Italy bridge collapse
By Allison Smith, 15 August 2018
The death toll has reached 35, with at least seven seriously injured and 440 forced to evacuate their homes following a gas leak.
Unexpectedly restrained: Matteo Garrone’s Dogman
Based on a horrific 1988 murder in Rome
By Emanuele Saccarelli, 30 July 2018
Dogman is a serious attempt to deal with a difficult, and in this climate not especially promising subject.
Italy strands rescue ship Lifeline as EU refugee summit collapses
By Alex Lantier, 25 June 2018
This is only one of the horrors taking place in Mediterranean waters between Italy and Libya, as the EU moves to block refugee flows.
Italy’s interior minister announces plan to register Roma and Sinti
By Marianne Arens, 23 June 2018
Salvini’s project of a Roma card index recalls one of the darkest periods in European history, drawing its inspiration directly from the vicious measures of Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime.
Right-wing smears against refugee aid workers in the Mediterranean
By Marianne Arens, 22 June 2018
The closure of Italian ports to civilian rescue ships goes hand in hand with the lies and slanders made against NGO rescue ships.
020 Anti-refugee campaign in Europe
21 June 2018
Thousands protest against Italian government’s closure of ports for refugee ships
By Marianne Arens, 19 June 2018
The unspeakable tragedy playing out in the Mediterranean will only be made worse by the new restrictions on rescue ships.
Clashing with Rome, Paris persecutes refugees at Italian border
By Athiyan Silva and Alex Lantier, 18 June 2018
While making empty criticisms of Rome’s callous refusal to help 629 refugees trapped aboard the Aquarius, Macron is stepping up France’s offensive against refugees.
Italian government turns away ship with 629 refugees aboard
By Marianne Arens, 12 June 2018
A decree by the new right-wing Italian government has prevented a ship with more than 600 refugees from landing in Italy. It is the result of the entire EU refugee policy.
Italy: Immigrant harvest worker shot dead
By Marianne Arens, 9 June 2018
Young immigrant shot just hours after Italy’s new far-right government took office.
Extreme-right Italian government takes shape
By Marianne Arens, 6 June 2018
In Italy, the new government of the Lega and the Five Star Movement is due to take power following a final vote of confidence in parliament on Wednesday.
Extreme right takes power in Italy
By Peter Schwarz, 2 June 2018
The new Italian government sworn in yesterday in Rome is the most right-wing since the fall of the fascist Duce Benito Mussolini in 1945.
The anti-worker program of Italy’s new populist and neo-fascist government
By Marc Wells, 1 June 2018
The policies adopted in the new government's program reflect the neo-fascist character of Lega as well as the law-and-order approach of the Five Star Movement.
Italian president considers installing neo-fascist government
By Alex Lantier, 31 May 2018
President Sergio Mattarella said he would not install a technocratic government without first trying to form a coalition between the Five Star Movement and the far-right Lega party.
Naming of technocratic government plunges Italy into crisis of class rule
By Alex Lantier, 30 May 2018
Financial markets are panicking and protests are being called, as bitter divisions inside the Italian bourgeoisie erupt to the surface.
Italy: IMF economist to form technocratic government
By Peter Schwarz, 29 May 2018
For now, the attempt to form a government of the Five Star protest movement and the far-right Lega in Italy has failed.
Italy: Most right-wing government since Mussolini
By Peter Schwarz, 23 May 2018
On Sunday, the protest Five Star Movement (M5S) and the right-wing extremist Lega agreed on a joint government programme.
Five Star Movement and Lega unveil coalition agreement to form right-wing Italian government
By Marianne Arens, 19 May 2018
The ultra-right extremists and Beppe Grillo’s protest movement intend to deport half a million immigrants and eliminate tens of thousands of public sector jobs.
Rome: Buses explode due to lack of maintenance
By Allison Smith, 15 May 2018
Last year, 22 buses were destroyed by fire in the Italian capital and 2018 is already on track to being far worse, with four bus fires in a single month.
Lega and Five Star Movement prepare a joint government in Italy
By Peter Schwarz, 12 May 2018
In Italy, the right-wing extremist Lega and the Five Star protest movement are negotiating the formation of a joint government. A result is expected at the beginning of next week.
No solution to Italian government crisis
By Marianne Arens, 8 May 2018
The second attempt to form a government failed on May 3 when the leadership of the Democratic Party rejected a coalition with the Five Star Movement.
Italy continues without a government
By Marianne Arens, 21 April 2018
Six weeks after the March 4 parliamentary election there is still no new Italian government in sight.
Italy: Five Star Movement makes a deal with the far-right League
By Marianne Arens and Peter Schwarz, 30 March 2018
The protest movement Five Star and the far-right League have moved closer together. They might now form a coalition government.
Why the far-right won in Italy
By Peter Schwarz, 7 March 2018
Decades of austerity and attacks on democratic rights by the official “left” in Italy, aided and abetted by its pseudo-left apologists, have produced an electoral victory by the far-right parties.
Right-wing parties benefit from anger over austerity, inequality
Historic defeat for social democrats in Italian election
By Marianne Arens, 6 March 2018
Amid growing popular disaffection with the centre-left parties and their pseudo-left apologists, Sunday’s parliamentary election resulted in a victory for the right-wing and extreme-right forces.
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