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Anti-vax protesters in Rome target PM's office and trade union headquarters

The Local Italy
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Anti-vax protesters in Rome target PM's office and trade union headquarters
TOPSHOT - A protester holds an Italian flag as he takes part in a demonstration in Piazza del Popolo in Rome on July 24, 2021, against the introduction of a mandatory 'green pass' for indoor dining and entertainment area, in the aim to limit the spread of the Covid-19. - Italy on July 22 said a health pass would be mandatory for people wishing to access bars, restaurants, swimming pools, sports facilities, museums and theatres from August 6. The rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant has fueled a surge in Covid-19 cases around the world this week, with total cases hitting 192,942,266 with 4,143,687 deaths. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

Anti-vaccine protesters including members of far-right groups attacked the headquarters of Italy’s national trade union organisation and attempted to reach the prime minister's office on Saturday, Italian media reports.

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Some ten thousand people protested in Rome on Saturday against of the incoming expansion of the Italian Covid-19 health certificate scheme, or green pass, from October 15th.

Riot police used water cannons to disperse several hundred demonstrators who headed towards the prime minister's office on Saturday evening, according to news agency Ansa.

Another group, reportedly led by members of the far-right organisation Forza Nuova, attacked and occupied the headquarters of CGIL, the Italian General Confederation of Labour on Saturday evening.

"Our national headquarters was attacked by Forza Nuova and the no-vax movement," stated CGIL on Twitter.

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Videos shared on social media appeared to show outnumbered riot police officers failing to stop a violent mob from entering the building.

https://twitter.com/EliseiNicole/status/1446869788127547394

The doors to the CGIL building were left open and alarms rang out on Saturday evening, Ansa reports, as those inside used a megaphone to accuse the trade union organisation of "failing to defend workers" from the green pass obligation.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi's office released a statement condemning "the violence that took place today in various Italian cities" and said the government "continues its commitment to complete the vaccination campaign against Covid-19".

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Around 10,000 people in total reportedly demonstrated in the Italian capital, Reuters reports, while thousands more demonstrated in Milan and other cities against the expansion of the green pass requirement to all workplaces from Friday.

READ ALSO: Italy’s vaccination campaign slows as ‘green pass effect’ fails to materialise

The digital or paper certificate proves the bearer has received at least one dose of the vaccine, or has recently recovered from Covid-19 or tested negative.

The expansion was announced last month in an attempt to persuade the millions of eligible people still unvaccinated in Italy to get the jab.

Under the new rules, any worker who fails to present a valid health certificate will be suspended without pay, though they cannot be sacked.

School staff have been subject to the green pass requirement since September 1st, while all healthcare workers in Italy must be vaccinated under a law passed back in April.

EXPLAINED: How Italy will enforce the new ‘green pass’ rules in all workplaces

Some 80 percent of the Italian population over the age of 12 is fully vaccinated as of Saturday, and so far protests against vaccination and the health pass in the country have been smaller than those seen this weekend.

But vaccine uptake has slowed in recent weeks as it appears the extended health certificate requirement has not had the intended effect of boosting the immunisation effort.

The sluggish rate of bookings for first jabs now stands in stark contrast to that of late July, when  online boking platforms struggled to cope as at least half a million appointments were made in the 24 hours after Prime Minister Mario Draghi first announced the domestic use of the green pass system.

With the majority of the population now inoculated against the virus, those who remain unvaccinated are likely to be the most staunch holdouts, presenting a major challenge to the government's efforts to further increase vaccine coverage.

8.3 million eligible people in Italy currently remain unvaccinated, according to health ministry figures published on Friday.

READ ALSO: Third doses and mandatory jabs: What’s next for Italy’s Covid vaccination campaign?

Draghi stated in July that vaccinations and the green pass were the only alternative to bringing back restrictions and closures should coronavirus infection rates rise again.

The Italian government has said it will consider introducing a vaccination mandate for all if more people cannot be persuaded to get the jab voluntarily

Health Minister Roberto Speranza said last month that the government would go ahead “without fear” with plans to mandate vaccinations if it were deemed necessary “in the defence of the right to health and the need to avoid new deprivations of freedom”.

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