Taxi service stopped for the sixth consecutive day to protest against the now famous amendment to the Milleproroghe decree. Strong tensions in Rome, where taxi drivers have also arrived from other Italian cities. The most heated demonstrations were in the morning in front of the headquarters of the Democratic Party. What made the climate incandescent and sent traffic and the area of the historic center into a tailspin between Piazza Venezia and Largo Chigi was also the demonstration of street vendors protesting against the Bolkenstein directive.
The escalation of tension then took place in Piazza Montecitorio, in front of the entrance to the Chamber of Deputies which was facing the examination of the Milleproroghe arrived by the Senate: paper bombs exploded. An initial balance speaks of four injured: three bruised and a fourth, a ambulant, more serious and taken by ambulance to hospital. In the early afternoon, a few thousand taxi drivers gathered at Porta Pia, where the Ministry of Transport is located, for the scheduled meeting between the taxi drivers' representatives and Minister Graziano Delrio. More paper bombs exploded in front of the ministry. Among the Protestants there were also thugs: a brass knuckles appeared (documented by Ansa photos), attacked the director of Gazebo who was filming the protests in front of the Pd headquarters in Largo Nazareno. Four detained by the police, two are members of Forza NUova including the leader Giuliano Castellino.
Retracing the thread of a hectic day that put traffic to the test and sent the whole area of central Rome into a tailspin, in the morning some paper bombs were detonated in front of the Chamber building: windows and glass shattered and traders forced to lower the shop shutters. Police, carabinieri and firefighters patrol the area. The demonstrators, however, have dissociated themselves from those who caused the strong explosions.
The situation is no less tense a Largo del Nazareno. The repeated throwing of objects caused a charge by the police, despite which the demonstrators continued to throw objects, overturned vases, tables and chairs of some clubs under the frightened gaze of the tourists. The taxi drivers mingled with exponents of the far right in Rome amidst Roman greetings and black flags with the symbol of pirates.
"We work together if there is no violence and threats". This is the message launched by the Minister of Transport Graziano Delrio shortly before the meeting with the representatives of the taxi drivers, which began at 15pm.
Meanwhile, in the Chamber, the Constitutional Affairs and Budget commissions have examined the amendments to the Milleproroghe decree, rejecting them in toto. The decree, therefore, remained in the version approved by the Senate, which includes the rules that caused the protest of taxi drivers and street vendors. The text will now arrive in the Chamber.
At this juncture it should be reported that this morning Virginia Raggi has announced her support for the cause of taxi driversi: “No more top-down reforms. Stop the Lanzillotta amendment. We alongside the taxi drivers. The protest – he added however – is depriving all of us citizens of a fundamental service. Not to mention that taxi drivers are our calling card for tourists and foreigners. I also want to appeal to taxi drivers so that the service returns to normal as soon as possible ". Beppe Grillo also sided with the assistists, raising protests and dissents within the 5 Star Movement.
