Italian truckers block highways to PROTEST exorbitant fuel prices

02/28/2022 / By Ramon Tomey

Truckers in Italy have blocked highways to protest further increases of already exorbitant fuel prices. The truckers, mainly hauling fresh produce, said the recent 25 percent rice in pump prices inflicted serious damage to the Italian economy.

The protests kicked off on Feb. 21, with members of the Sicilian truck haulers association AIAS leading the way. They staged a sit-in protest at the toll booth in the western San Gregorio municipality in Sicily, along the A18 motorway. They explained that the increase in diesel prices, tires and energy coupled with impassable roads, motorway tolls and driver shortages “has created a situation where haulers’ expenses have become unbearable.”

Crisis24 reported that the road blockages have “most significantly affected the southern regions of the country in recent days – including in Sicily, Puglia and on routes from Salerno to Reggio Calabria.” It added that “similar convoy-style protests have been reported on routes near the cities of Naples and Caserta in [the] Campania region, as well as near Ravenna in [the] Emilia-Romagna region.”

Furio Tuzzi, who leads the Assoutenti association of public service consumers, voiced out opposition to the rising fuel prices. “The high cost of petrol is a drama that affects everyone – starting with consumers who pay twice the price increases at the pump, first through the cost of refueling, then with retail prices that rise due to higher transport costs,” he said.

The demonstrations against rising fuel prices went on for four days. Infrastructure and Transport Minister Enrico Giovannini said he would meet with the transport associations on Feb. 22 and 23 with the hope of laying down concrete measures to address the matter. However, both parties have not come to an agreement.

The truckers’ protests that began in Sicily are expected to affect supplies of goods and prices of existing stocks throughout Italy in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Italian road transport news portal Transporto Europa warned that the blockade could trigger other protests nationwide. (Related: Truckers’ transportation coalition warns of “super supply chain crisis” as America’s cities may collapse into war zones: food, fuel, medical supplies could all be disrupted.)

Italians take to the streets to protest against vaccine mandates

The protests by Italian truckers followed similar demonstrations against the country’s Super Green Pass. Citizens took to the streets of the capital Rome and other areas to voice out their opposition to the measure. The Super Green Pass, which is the country’s version of the vaccine passport, excluded people who have not been injected with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) shot from most establishments.

The Italian government also mandated that beginning Feb. 15, all public and private workers must present their Super Green Pass before they can enter their workplaces. The pass is only available for those fully vaccinated or recovered from a bout with COVID-19. Given this, unemployed Italians aged 50 years and up are unable to get a Super Green Pass even if they present proof of COVID-19 recovery – essentially excluding them from most public spaces.

The largest anti-vaccine protest occurred in the capital, with over 5,000 people converging at the plaza in front of Rome’s Lateran Basilica. The protesters directed their anger toward Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Mario Draghi for implementing medical martial law. Several prominent personalities including actor Enrico Montesano and lawmaker Bianca Laura Granato were in attendance.

Former Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano also delivered a message during the Rome protest. “It is the Lord who saves you, not an experimental serum. Your protest is courageous, and starts from fundamental principles such as the right to natural freedoms. I urge you not to give in to provocations,” he told the attendees.

The archbishop also called on people to continue rejecting the COVID-19 vaccines, adding: “Your children will thank you for what you do.”