Italian police sprayed tear gas at thousands of demonstrators in Milan's Piazza Duomo and used water cannons in Bologna's Piazza Medaglie d'Oro, local media reported Saturday.
The clashes left at least 12 people hospitalized in Milan and saw 50 arrests; in Bologna authorities detained seven protesters and temporarily shut the central railway station.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a statement condemning the violence, reaffirmed the right to peaceful protest, and urged opposition parties to issue a unified condemnation.
The demonstrations, organized by the "Italy in the Square" committee, attracted over 5,000 participants in Milan alone, demanding higher wages, lower inflation, and better public services.
Across the Channel, French police arrested around 400 of 550,000 demonstrators in Paris and other cities, echoing Italy's cost‑of‑living unrest.