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Italians protest austerity measures

Press TV – October 8, 2011

Students demonstrate in downtown Rome on October 7, 2011

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Italy to protest against the austerity measures adopted by the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The demonstrations were held in Milan and Rome on Saturday, DPA reported.

The rallies targeted the public sector job cuts that are part of the austerity measures, aimed at balancing the Italian budget by 2013.

A 60-billion-euro austerity package to balance the budget by 2013 was passed last month only after weeks of hesitation and delay.

Trade union representatives had earlier warned that a total of 300,000 jobs could end up being cut in the five-year period leading to 2013.

Also on Friday, students across the country protested against government cutbacks in funding for education.

Over the past three years, Berlusconi’s government has cut some 8 billion euros (USD 10.7 billion) from the education budget.

The Italian premier, who is under pressure over corruption and sex scandals, has been facing criticism for his center-right government’s erratic handling of the country’s economy.

Protest organizers said they were preparing a major mobilization for October 15 — which has been set as a day for anti-capitalist “Indignant” protests.

October 8, 2011 - Posted by | Economics, Solidarity and Activism

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