Meloni pushes through anti-protest law expanding police powers in Italy

Italy’s Senate on June 4 approved a contentious bill proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, aimed at tightening controls on protests and expanding legal protections for law enforcement personnel.

Known as the Security Decree, the legislation passed with 109 votes in favour, 69 against, and one abstention, following its earlier passage in the Chamber of Deputies, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The law introduces stricter penalties for offences committed during protests, such as property damage and obstructive sit-ins, while also expanding law enforcement powers. It permits intelligence agents to carry out certain criminal acts in the name of national security without facing legal consequences.

A new provision also criminalises the injury of police officers while on duty, and includes a financial allocation of up to €10,000 to cover legal expenses for officers under investigation for actions taken in the course of duty.

Prime Minister Meloni welcomed the vote, stating:

“With the final approval of the Security Decree in the Senate, the Government takes a decisive step to strengthen the protection of citizens, the most vulnerable groups, and our men and women in uniform.”

The decree also includes tougher penalties for inmates who riot or disobey orders in prisons and migrant detention facilities, as well as new measures targeting pickpocketing on public transport. Special provisions address cases where individuals claim to be pregnant to avoid incarceration.

Promoted under Meloni’s broader campaign pledge to deliver “a safer Italy,” the legislation has drawn widespread criticism. Demonstrations have taken place in multiple cities, with civil rights groups warning that the decree could limit civil liberties, criminalise public dissent, and infringe upon the right to protest.

Opposition parties and critics have pointed to the historical roots of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, alleging that expanded police powers and curbs on protest mirror authoritarian practices.

In December 2023, Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, raised formal concerns in a letter to Senate President Ignazio La Russa, suggesting the bill may breach European human rights standards, particularly in its treatment of protesters, migrants, and young activists.

Just before the final Senate vote, centre-left opposition senators staged a protest, sitting on the chamber floor while chanting “shame.”

Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein condemned the decree, stating:

“It is a decree that is not about more security, but about more repression.”

By Tamilla Hasanova