Taxi Drivers Protest in Rome Against Uber and Government
Taxi drivers in Rome took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against the government’s handling of ride-hailing apps like Uber, as well as the lack of stricter regulations for these multinationals. The protest, which was called by 18 unions representing cab drivers, saw taxi drivers across Italy demand clearer rules for digital platforms and protection of taxi services as a local public service.
The incident turned violent when Matteo Hallissey, president of the liberal +Europa party and the Italian Radicals, was attacked by an angry group of taxi drivers during the protest outside parliament in Rome. Hallissey, 22, had arrived at the scene carrying a sign saying “No more lobbying” and holding a POS machine, which he offered to taxi drivers, who are often accused of claiming their electronic payment system does not