President Sergio Mattarella's
office said in a statement on Thursday that the head of State
has signed the government's decree on security and immigration.
It said that the president also sent a letter to Premier
Giuseppe Conte stating that "Constitutional and international
State obligations" remain.
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, the architect of the
decree, hailed the president's signature, saying in Milanese
dialect: "Mattarella has signed, take it and bring it home!".
He added: "We'll respect the Constitution but we won't be
made fools of".
Deputy Premier Salvini had a meeting with Mattarella on
Wednesday to discuss the former's decree on migration and
security.
Among other things, the decree will extend the scope to deny
or revoke international protection status for people who have
committed serious crimes and makes it possible for migrants to
be expelled following a first-instance conviction.
"It marked the closure of a path that was agreed on by
everyone," Salvini said Thursday, describing the meeting as
"cordial and positive" and saying the decree had been "fine
tuned".
"No decree has ever been studied and accompanied like this
one on security and immigration.
"But it's right that it should be this way with such a n
important issue".
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