Italy's Big Protest: Workers Stand Up to Budget Cuts

In Italy, a massive strike shook the nation as workers voiced their discontent with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's 2026 budget. The CGIL, Italy's largest trade union, led the charge, claiming that over half of the workforce, both public and private, joined the strike. Major cities saw huge crowds, with more than 500, 000 people marching in the streets. The strike caused major disruptions. Trains ran late, schools closed, and public services slowed down. The CGIL, with 5 million members, many of whom are retirees, made it clear that they are not happy with the budget. Their leader, Maurizio Landini, spoke out at a rally in Florence, saying that the workers who keep Italy running are not on board with the government's plans. The main issue? The budget plans to boost defense spending while cutting back on healthcare, education, and support for salaries and pensions. The unions argue that this is not the way to go. They want more investment in these areas to help regular people. But the government sees it differently. They believe the budget will make Italy's finances stronger and lower taxes for middle-income earners. Financial markets and ratings agencies seem to agree, as they have given the budget a thumbs up. This isn't the first time workers have taken to the streets. There have been many protests recently against the government's economic policies and their support for Israel. Despite this, Meloni's right-wing party is still leading in the polls, and her coalition remains strong. However, recent surveys show a slight drop in the government's popularity and a small rise in support for the center-left opposition. The next election is still a few years away, but the protests show that not everyone is happy with the current direction.