Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

On the agenda: What’s happening in Italy this week

From strikes to the formation of the new government, here’s a look at the key events you should know about.

Published: 17 October 2022 10:07 CEST
On the agenda: What’s happening in Italy this week
Italy's Quirinale presidential palace in downtown Rome. Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP

Monday, 17th

Work continues on forming new government

Italy is now in the process of creating its new government following elections at the end of September. 

After the reopening of parliament and some very controversial appointments as speakers for both houses last week, on Monday those speakers will summon MPs for the formation of the new parliamentary groups and the election of each group’s chairman (the so-called capogruppo).

Once both procedures are completed, all the pieces will finally be in place and the head of state, Sergio Mattarella, will be able to start consultations for the appointment of Italy’s new prime minister and their cabinet.

READ ALSO: When will Italy have a new government? 

Tuesday, 18th

Literary festival in Rome

Rome is holding a literary festival this week in honour of American poet T.S. Eliot one hundred years after the publication of The Waste Land (known in Italian as ‘La terra desolata’), widely regarded as one of the most important poems of the 20th century.

The three-day Città Luogo di Poesia festival runs from the 17th to the 21st of October at Rome’s Casa delle Letterature and the Ciak theatre, and includes poetic readings, workshops and a theatrical performance.

Wednesday, 19th

Start of government consultations – Barring any setbacks in the formation of the new parliamentary groups on Monday, Italian President Sergio Matterella will be able to start consultations on Wednesday, October 19th. 

The head of state will confer with house speakers Ignazio La Russa and Lorenzo Fontana first and then with the parliament’s capigruppo. Mattarella will also consult with individual party leaders.

The Italian Constitution doesn’t set a time limit for the president’s consultations, which last until a potential government is identified that would be capable of winning a vote of confidence in parliament.

This time, given the clear parliamentary majority achieved by the right-wing bloc, consultations are not expected to take long – perhaps as little as two or three days. 

Brothers of Italy party leader Giorgia Meloni at the start of the vote for the new Senate president. Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

Friday, 21st

Air traffic operators strike – Staff from national air traffic control company ENAV (Ente Nazionale per l’Assistenza al Volo) are planning to hold a 24-hour strike on Friday, October 21st.

It’s unclear at the moment how the strike will affect air travel on the day, though delays and/or cancellations cannot be ruled out.

The strike was called by Italian unions Filt-Cgil, Filt-Cisl and Uiltrasporti in an ongoing dispute over working arrangements and contracts.

Saturday, 22nd

Protest in Rome

There may be some disruption in central Rome on Saturday due to a demonstration against work-related injuries and deaths planned by trade unions for 10am in Santi Apostoli.

The protest is due to a startlingly high number of workplace accidents in Italy, many of them fatal: the latest figures show 400,000 accidents with 600 deaths in 2022 alone. As a result, protesters are demanding better safety standards in various types of workplaces across Italy.

Sunday 23rd

Food festivals

Italy’s autumn programme of food and drink festivals continues. This weekend, events include Palermo’s Funghi Fest (Mushroom festival), on the 21st-23rd October.

READ ALSO: Nine things to do in Italy this autumn

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

On the agenda: What’s happening in Italy this week

From a nationwide public transport strike to talks over a contested electoral reform, here’s what to expect in Italy this week.

Published: 5 May 2024 10:23 CEST
On the agenda: What's happening in Italy this week

Monday

Nationwide public transport strike 

Commuters in Italy may face delays and/or cancellations on Monday, May 6th as staff at public transport operators around the country plan to strike for 24 hours. 

The protest, which is backed by some of Italy’s largest transport unions, may affect the normal operation of bus, subway and tram services but shouldn’t impact scheduled interregional and long-distance train journeys. 

The level of disruption caused by the walkout will vary from city to city, with services in large metropolitan areas currently expected to be among the most heavily affected. 

READ ALSO: The transport strikes that will hit travel in Italy in May 2024

All public transport operators in Italy are required to provide a number of ‘minimum services’ (servizi minimi) during strikes, but their exact times will vary by city and operator. 

Rai journalists’ 24-hour strike 

Scheduled TV and radio programmes from Italy’s state network Rai may be subject to changes at the start of this week as journalists with the broadcaster plan to take part in a 24-hour strike starting at 5.30pm on Monday, May 6th and ending at 5.30pm on Tuesday, May 7th. 

The walkout was called by reporters’ trade union Usigrai in late April in protest against “the suffocating control” exerted over their work by the current right-wing administration and recent attempts “to reduce Rai to a megaphone for the government”, the union said.

Discussions over Rai’s independence aren’t new in Italy but fresh accusations of censorship erupted last month after the network cancelled the appearance of high-profile author Antonio Scurati, who planned to give an antifascist speech on one of its talk shows ahead of Italy’s Liberation Day on April 25th.

Tennis fever in Rome

The 2024 edition of the Internazionali d’Italia – Italy’s most prestigious tennis tournament – will unfold at Rome’s Foro Italico venue from Monday, May 6th to Sunday, May 19th.

A general view of the Nicola Pietrangeli court during the Internazionali di Roma tennis tournament

A view of the Nicola Pietrangeli court during the Internazionali di Roma tennis tournament in May 2023. Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP

Rome’s city council has estimated that some 350,000 tennis fans will attend this year’s tournament.

Wednesday

Senate to discuss plan for direct election of PM

Italy’s upper chamber of parliament will discuss a contested draft law proposing an overhaul of the country’s electoral system on Wednesday, May 8th. 

The reform, which was first drafted by the right-wing Forza Italia party last November, would change article 92 of the Italian Constitution, allowing voters to directly elect the prime minister.  

Under the current system, parties engage in government-formation talks after a general election and the parliamentary majority agrees on a figure to become premier pending the head of state’s approval.

The draft law has so far been the object of harsh criticism, with critics saying that the proposed system isn’t found in any other democratic nation in the world and the direct election of the PM would dangerously deplete the president of the republic’s powers.

Thursday

Turin’s International Book Fair

The Salone Internazionale del Libro – Italy’s largest book fair – will return to Turin’s Lingotto Fiere exhibition space on Thursday, May 9th.

As usual, the festival will feature a variety of talks, shows and workshops, with Vita Immaginaria (‘Imaginary Life’) being the central theme of this year’s edition.

Further info on the event can be found here.

Sunday

Air traffic controllers’ strike at Milan’s Malpensa airport

Passengers flying to or from Milan’s Malpensa airport may face disruption on Sunday, May 12th as staff at air traffic control agency Enav plan to strike from 1pm to 5pm.

An interior view of Terminal 1 at Milan's Malpensa Airport

An interior view of Terminal 1 at Milan’s Malpensa Airport in March 2008. Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP

At the time of writing, no airline had announced changes to the departure or arrival time of scheduled flights to or from Malpensa on Sunday, but potential delays or cancellations couldn’t be ruled out. 

All passengers planning to fly to or from Malpensa on May 12th are advised to check the status of their journey with the relevant airline before setting off.

Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 12th will mark Italy’s Mother’s Day (or Festa della Mamma in Italian).

Formally established in 1958, Italy’s Mother’s Day originally fell on May 8th but was moved to the second Sunday of May in 2000 to align the Italian calendar with the American one.

SHOW COMMENTS