A-Infos (en) Italy, FAI - Umanita Nova: From Crispi to Meloni (passing through Mussolini): the Piantedosi bill. (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

Exactly one hundred years ago, Italy experienced one of the darkest 
phases of its history: bloody repression of the agitations of the 
Sicilian Fasci and those in Lunigiana, promulgation of the 
"anti-anarchist laws" (July 1894) by the Crispi government. If that 
repressive crackdown was "justified" at the time with the large-scale 
workers' mobilizations and the anarchist attacks by Sante Caserio and 
Paolo Lega, no plausible pretext seems to exist today, in a phase 
(unfortunately) of little social effervescence, for the continuous 
adoption of repressive measures by the Meloni government.

A very serious danger is today represented by the Piantedosi bill (see 
UN n. 24) which, in the total disinterest of the press, is being 
discussed in Parliament. If this security package were to be approved, 
it would cause the system of public liberties in our country to take a 
leap back a hundred years. All that is missing is the return of forced 
residence (but they are probably working on it), for this reason the 
widest mobilization and the most complete counter-information on the new 
measures being adopted are essential.

Summarizing such a broad and organically repressive provision is not 
easy but let's try to briefly retrace (and without claiming to be 
complete) some of the salient points.

"VERBAL" TERRORISM (art. 1) the simple "knowing" (?) possession of 
documents containing instructions on how to prepare bombs, etc. becomes 
a crime and entails imprisonment from 2 to 6 years.

REVOCATION OF CITIZENSHIP (art. 9) was already provided for serious 
crimes by a 2018 law, in the case of acquired citizenship. Now the 
deadline for adopting it after the final conviction is extended from 3 
to 10 years (thank goodness it is excluded if the convicted person does 
not have another citizenship). It is not provided for (for the moment?) 
for citizens from birth.

OCCUPATION OF BUILDINGS (art. 10) increases the penalties (already 
aggravated several times in the past years by Renzi, Salvini and then 
with the Rave party decree). If the property (and its appurtenances) is 
intended "for someone else's domicile" occupying it entails imprisonment 
from 2 to 7 years. Proceedings are ex officio if the property is public. 
The police can proceed directly with the eviction without waiting for 
the magistrate's order.

DAMAGE DURING DEMONSTRATIONS (art. 12) provides for further types of 
crime with increased penalties.

URBAN DASPO AND DEFERRED ARREST (art. 13) it is sufficient to have been 
reported (not even convicted!) in the previous 5 years for crimes 
"against the person or against property" to be excluded, from 12 months 
to 2 years, from access to a location (including various 
infrastructures: read stations, TAV construction sites and Messina 
bridge) furthermore the "deferred" arrest in flagrante delicto is also 
extended to crimes committed during public demonstrations.

ROAD AND RAILWAY BLOCK (art. 14) returns to being a criminal offense 
(and no longer an administrative offense) if committed using only "one's 
own body" by more than one person can lead to imprisonment from 6 months 
to 2 years.

RULES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE POLICE (AND THE ARMY) police officers 
can freely and without a license carry weapons even when off duty (art. 
28); if reported for acts committed on duty, police officers, military 
personnel and firefighters are entitled to a contribution towards legal 
expenses (art. 22-23); officers can wear video cameras on duty 
especially in prison, CPR and during demonstrations (art. 21); a new 
crime has been introduced for injuries to officers during a 
demonstration (art. 20); penalties for violence, threats or even simple 
resistance to a public official have been increased (art. 19); 
defacement of buildings used for "public functions" (courts, barracks 
etc.) entails increased penalties (art. 24); failure to comply with 
orders given by the traffic police (e.g. Order to stop) entails higher 
administrative sanctions regarding fines, deduction of points and 
suspension of the driving licence (art. 25). Penalties are introduced 
for those who do not comply with orders or oppose the Guardia di 
Finanza, Coast Guard and Navy (art. 29).

NON-PUNISHABILITY OF MILITARY ABROAD AND AGENTS PROVOCATORS Many crimes 
committed by the army during international missions are declared 
non-punishable, including the use of weapons (art. 30). Anti-terrorism 
espionage activities are significantly strengthened (art. 31); secret 
agents in anti-terrorism functions are authorized to carry out terrorist 
acts themselves (!) which cannot be prosecuted (art. 31). This extends 
an impunity already partially and temporarily introduced by the Renzi 
government with DL 7/2015

SAFETY IN PRISONS AND CPRs (art 26-27, 34) The new crime of "riot inside 
a penitentiary institution" is introduced with sentences of 2 to 8 years 
for the promoters and 1 to 5 years for simple participation (but 
numerous possible aggravating circumstances are also foreseen), the 
incitement to disobey the laws entails an aggravating circumstance if 
committed inside prisons. In the case of immigration centers (where, let 
us remember, people who have not committed any crime are 
administratively detained) a prison sentence of 1 to 6 years is foreseen 
for those who promote a riot and 1 to 4 years for simple participation 
(here too numerous possible aggravating circumstances are foreseen). 
Here the State throws away the mask by explicitly declaring the prison 
condition of the "guests" of the CPRs. The procedures for the 
establishment of new CPRs are simplified.

"ANTI ROMA" RULES (as they have been defined) the suspension of 
sentences for pregnant prisoners or mothers of young children is no 
longer mandatory but optional (art. 15), new rules are introduced 
against those who organize or encourage child begging (art. 16).

In the security frenzy, the cultivation and sale of light hemp is even 
prohibited (art. 18). This is one of the few articles to have attracted 
the attention of the press.

In the face of such a serious legislative attack, the broadest and most 
resolute mobilization is needed. It is likely that in parliament some of 
the most scabrous points will be "refined" to give a sop to public 
opinion but it is the provision as a whole that must be rejected. 
History teaches us that a liberticidal provision is almost never 
repealed by successive governments, so we still find ourselves today 
with a repressive arsenal dating back largely to Crispi and fascism. It 
is necessary to block any further reactionary drift!

Mauro De Agostini

SOURCES: this article is based on the official dossier of September 4, 
2024 produced by the research services of the Chamber and Senate and on 
previous analyses by the No CPR network and the Documentation Center 
against War, both in Milan.

bill 1660, Piantedosi bill, rights, fascism, Meloni government, freedom, 
neo-fascism, repression, security

https://umanitanova.org/da-crispi-a-meloni-passando-per-mussolini-il-ddl-piantedosi/
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