ROME - A Roman street seller tried to set himself on fire right in the centre of the city during a demonstration protesting against new crackdowns on the trade, local authorities said on Tuesday.

 The incident took place on Monday at about 10.30, in front of the entrance of the Ministry of Economic Development in the city center as one protestor tried to burn himself by spreading a flammable liquid, yet was promptly stopped by numerous police officers present.

 In a statement, local trade union representative Alessia Salmoni, head of Uiltucs Lazio on public areas and member of the national street sellers’ coordination, said; “We express full solidarity with the Roman ambulant hospitalized at the Hospital S. Spirito after trying to burn himself in front of the Ministry of Economic Development. The extreme gesture arose from yet another failure to inform Minister Di Maio about the tragic situation surrounding trade in public areas in Rome.  Such episodes show an increasing level of despair amongst street sellers. We hope that institutions on all levels will take note as soon as possible.”

 This dramatic protest was not an isolated incident; just last June another street vendor tried to set himself on fire near the Coliseum.

 The issue at stake is a new regulation put into effect by municipal councilor Andrea Coia, cracking down on this form of trade, which has angered many street vendors. At the launch of the regulation the Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi declared, “Thanks to the application of Resolution 30/2017 we are reorganizing the sector of commerce on public areas. Citizens are crying out for this. The lack of regulation over the years has made some roads impassable for Romans; consider the difficulties experienced by people with severe disabilities who are forced to move around in wheelchairs without sufficient space, or by mothers with pushchairs. Pavements must once again be a place to walk. To the street vendors who are paralysing the city with protests, I remind them that their jobs are protected; a license has not been revoked. This administration is obliged to take into account everyone's needs.”

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