The so-called 'Padania', is a recent political construct and an alternative geographical name for northern Italy used by anti-immigrant Northern League party. The Northern League is currently part of Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom ruling coalition.
Rome, 5 Feb. (AKI) - Anti-Immigrant vigilante groups in Italy could begin organising themselves to start street patrols to monitor any 'illegal activities' by immigrants. The move was made after the Italian senate approved on Thursday legislation allowing the patrols.
However, the opposition Democratic Party (PD) introduced an amendment banning the patrols from carrying arms and limiting their role to notifying authorities of any 'wrongdoing' by immigrants.
"From today, we abandon do-gooding. From now on it will be a tough battle against criminality and illegal immigration," said Northern League Senate whip Federico Bricolo, who also dismissed claims of racism by members of opposition parties.
Maurizio Gasparri, one of the presidents of the parliamentary groups of the centre-right People of Freedom Party in the Senate and the Lower House, said the bill was to safeguard the rights of Italians.
"These are laws that give precedence to the rights of Italians, because for us, Italians come first. We are not racist, the opposition should be ashamed of themselves."
"When I take my daughter to school in the morning, I would rather see an old man with a coloured vest, (carrying out vigilante duties) rather than someone dealing drugs," said Gasparri.
The patrols will be able to point out "events that can cause harm to public security, or situations of environmental distress," the legislation states.
A phone number has also been set up in northern Italy, to recruit volunteers for the patrols. The move was organised by the northeastern Veneto region's branch of the conservative Italian political party Forza Italia.
"In every province, in every commune, we will give our support for the birth of volunteer groups that want to organise themselves to point out to the authorities possible criminal acts," said Dario Bond, regional councillor for Forza Italia.
Ahead of Italy's April 2008 general election, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party and the National Alliance party announced they would merge to form the People of Freedom party.
In addition, the legislation includes a provision calling for a 'census' of homeless people. The data collected will be entered into a database held by Italy's interior ministry.
Doctors will also be able to report illegal immigrants to the Italian government under legislation approved on Thursday by the Italian senate. Another law imposes a 80-200 euros charge for immigrants requesting a permit of stay in Italy, also an initiative of the Northern League.
However, before passing into law, the legislation must be approved by the lower house.
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Topic: Italy: Govt okays local 'vigilante' patrols (Read 1902 times)