Massive anti-govt. protests held in Italy credits to [ Ссылка ]


More than 100,000 demonstrators joined members of Italy's largest labor union to protest against the austerity plans proposed by the government.


The Saturday demonstrations against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's center-right government were organized by the Italian General Confederation of Labor (CGIL).

Protesters, including union members and students, carried flags and red balloons and shouted anti-government slogans. They were angry with job losses across the country and a weak economy.

The march's official slogan read, "The future belongs to the young and employment -- no rights, no democracy," AFP reported.

CGIL Secretary Susanna Camusso said, "This country has no future if the government does not start doing [sic] different policies for labor and improves their (students') chances of studying and of finding a job afterwards."

"After two years of endless crisis and rising unemployment, everyone can see that this country lacks a plan for the future," she added.

The demonstration follows trade unions' strikes and student protests within the past few days.

University students in several cities have recently staged protests against job and funding cuts in the education system. They have also occupied symbolic Italian monuments such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Rome's Colosseum.

The reforms they are protesting against would bring cuts of EUR 9 billion (USD 12 billion) and 130,000 job losses to the education system, and will be voted on in parliament on Tuesday.

Italy's average unemployment rate is around eight percent, and more than a quarter of people under 24 are out of work.

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