Taxi drivers protest in Rome (VIDEO) — RT World Information
Unions oppose authorities plan to liberalize the general public transport sector by permitting Uber to function
A whole lot of taxi drivers have taken to the streets in Rome to protest towards the federal government’s plan to liberalize the general public transport sector by integrating ride-sharing operators.
On Wednesday morning a number of union representatives had been seen chained collectively in entrance of the Chigi Palace – the prime minister’s official residence – for the second day in a row. They had been quoted by the native media as saying: “We chained ourselves at the moment to be free tomorrow.”
Movies posted on social media present firecrackers and smoke bomb explosions within the capital’s central sq., Piazza Venezia.
Occasional clashes with law enforcement officials, deployed in massive portions to maintain the demonstrators out of presidency buildings, have additionally been reported.
The protest of taxi drivers in Rome continues, bombs in the direction of Mario Draghi. Taxi drivers from Milan, Turin, Genoa and plenty of different cities in northern Italy additionally left for Rome. The endurance of the Italian individuals is useless. pic.twitter.com/AmdjouRuGY
— RadioGenova (@RadioGenova) July 13, 2022
Whereas a few of the slogans and posters seen on the demonstration goal lawmakers and prime minister, Mario Draghi, most of them take goal on the automotive service big Uber, which taxi drivers imagine will get a lift from the brand new laws, whereas the small carriers will undergo. Uber exists in Italy however operates solely on a restricted foundation and solely in main cities. Nonetheless, it has eyed increasing its operations after placing a deal to combine its app with the biggest taxi dispatcher in Italy, IT Taxi.
Article 10 of the Competitors Invoice, which remains to be into account, goals to advertise competitors, present for the event of technological platforms and, most significantly, the final deregularization of the market. Final week, Teresa Bellanova, the Deputy Minister of Sustainable Infrastructures and Mobility, defined that the federal government doesn’t need to create issues for taxi drivers however is just trying to fulfill the “want for earnings” of all staff whereas guaranteeing “environment friendly mobility” for its residents.
In the meantime, the protests of taxi drivers who’re demanding the whole removing of Article 10 have been happening for weeks now. This week’s protest, nonetheless, in contrast to the others, began spontaneously on Tuesday, ignited by the latest publication of Uber Recordsdata – leaked paperwork from the tech firm exposing a few of its controversial techniques. Amongst different issues, the paperwork revealed that Uber execs noticed themselves as “pirates” taking up the transportation trade, with assist from high-profile mates.
The unions claimed that the Uber Recordsdata “set fireplace to the Italian squares” and that their authorities was “deaf and blind” if it needed to proceed with its plans of market liberalization.
