The House on Wednesday
definitively approved the reform of the Antimafia Code with 259
votes in favour, 107 against and 28 abstentions.
The bill thus becomes law after many rows and much
controversy.
The bill extends the confiscation of assets, long used as an
effective weapon against those convicted of mafia crimes, for
people convicted of bribery and corruption, stalking and
terrorism offences.
A committee has also been set up to combat jihadist
radicalisation.
Justice Minister Andrea Orlando has said of the reform:
"This reform puts us, from the legal standpoint, in the
vanguard on an international level in combatting organised crime
and clearly shows the government's will to lead a battle without
quarter on this front.
"I can only show great satisfaction at the approval of a
measure that has had a very long gestation, which strengthens
the efficiency of the agency for confiscated assets, which
offers new instruments for fighting organised crime and which
introduces elements of strong transparency also in the
management of goods".
Italy has long used the confiscation of assets to fight the
country's three main mafias: the Sicily-based Cosa Nostra, the
Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta, and the Campania-based Camorra, all
of which have penetrated the economies of the rest of Italy and
many foreign countries as well.
Asset confiscations have, among other things, helped the
police debilitate the support network of the fugitive Cosa
Nostra No.1, Matteo Messina Denaro.
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