Italy’s Right-Wing Government Cracks Down on Illegal Raves

The party’s over for Italy’s illegal rave scene as the country’s right-wing government will crack down on unauthorized parties. Whoever is responsible for staging and organizing such events can face up to six years in prison. 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose government is the country’s most right-wing since World War II, discussed the problem of unlicensed rave parties during the first meeting of her cabinet. 

Under proposals agreed by her government, illegal rave organizers could face jail terms of up to six years and fines of up to €10,000. Authorities will be given the power to confiscate equipment such as sound systems. 

Meloni labeled the move as a way to bring in new standards for European neighbors. According to the prime minister, tightening rules for wrongful activities demonstrates that the state “won’t turn a blind eye and fail to act when faced with law-breaking.”

During a news conference, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the new offence applies to unauthorized gatherings of at least 50 people that threaten public health, safety, and order. 

The crackdown follows a weekend of Halloween festivities and parties. On Sunday, Piantedosi ordered the eviction of more than 3,000 party-goers that gathered in an abandoned warehouse for the Witchtrek 2K22 Halloween event. 

The illegal rave – where people from Italy and abroad flocked to – generated noise complaints on the outskirts of Modena, northern Italy.  

Following a brief stand-off where a police officer entered the disused warehouse to announce that revelers must leave, the event organizers turned off the music and left party-goers to clear up the area.