Key facts
- Diesel prices in Italy have risen by about a third since strikes on Iran.
- The cost of a long-haul journey from Naples to Milan has increased significantly.
- Retailers' association Federdistribuzione reported damage in the tens of millions of euros.
- The International Road Transport Union appealed to the European Commission for help.
Truck drivers and farmers in southern Italy have initiated widespread blockades of highways, ports, and distribution centers to protest soaring diesel costs. The demonstrations have led to empty supermarket shelves and fuel shortages at airports. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has vowed to clear the roadblocks using a security decree, while also promising financial relief measures for affected farmers and fishermen. The protests are escalating into an economic crisis, potentially shifting the political focus ahead of next spring's elections.