Milan is bracing for more confrontations after a violent weekend in which rioters looted shops and set property on fire.
On Monday afternoon, luxury retailers on Via Montenapoleone closed to avoid more damage, with stores carrying brands such as Giorgio Armani SpA, Prada SpA, and MiuMiu among those that shut early. The shopping area steadily emptied as closures spread.
Giorgia Meloni's government aims to sign off on a new decree as early as Tuesday, according to Corriere della Sera, which cited decisions from a government meeting in Rome.
The plan would expand what police can do, letting them interrogate minors who join protests and curb assemblies. Meloni criticized the unrest, writing that "demonstrating is a right, setting our cities ablaze is not." Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini said the government would deploy "500 extra military to defend Milan."
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The domestic clampdown coincides with France rolling out tighter security and pledging business aid after officials there acknowledged law-enforcement lapses. Over the weekend, French cost-of-living protests devolved into violence, vandalism, and looting.
In Italy, a trade-union rally in Rome targeted low wages and rising inflation. Across the south of Italy, farmers and truckers staged demonstrations over costly fuel, and the actions carried on into Monday.
The bottom line: If your portfolio leans on luxury and retail tied to Milan's shopping districts, watch for disruption risk as security steps and demonstrations evolve.
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