ITALY: Government introduces second security decree, risking further shrinking of civic freedoms and participation
Less than a year after the security decree was adopted through a fast-track procedure, the Meloni government has proposed another. On 24 April, the Chamber of Deputies approved the second so-called “security decree”, including provisions on public security, investigative activities of the judiciary and the ministry of the interior, and immigration, as well as increased police powers. The provisions, together with the first security degree, risk negatively affecting civic freedoms and democratic participation. The new decree introduces exceptional home search powers for the police and detentions lasting up to 12 hours without judicial oversight, based solely on the police’s assessment that a person is dangerous. Failure to notify the police chief of a public demonstration will be reclassified from a criminal offense to an administrative one, punishable by fines ranging from €1000 to €10,000. In addition, the scope will be extended to include those who organise gatherings through digital platforms or closed groups. Italian civil society argues that the provisions are unconstitutional and in violation of international and European human rights standards, warning that the new proposal is another turn towards authoritarianism by the Meloni government.