Lorry drivers’ protest: roadblocks removed in Campania too
Checkpoints have been removed in the Caserta and Salerno areas, as well as at the Bausan checkpoint in Naples
All the roadblocks set up by lorry drivers and farmers on the motorway network in Campania were removed overnight in the Caserta area and the Salerno area. The protest in Naples, in the Bausan toll plaza area, was also cleared by the demonstrators. Many petrol stations are still showing ‘out of stock’, whilst long queues are forming at the pumps that are open. The return to normality is slow for supermarkets, which were left completely empty of most products and are now beginning to restock.
On Thursday 22 October, the Council of Ministers approved an aid package worth 105 million to combat high diesel prices. The funds are going to hauliers as well as the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The tax on small parcels has been postponed until 2027. “Only a few individuals are continuing the blockades; we will not tolerate intimidation,” said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Ombudsman for strikes is calling for compulsory service. Meanwhile, the Naples Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating alleged Mafia infiltration. The protest has petered out in most regions, such as Calabria, Puglia and Basilicata. In numerous Adriatic ports, fishing vessels have also come to a standstill.
