League leader blasts govt 'depenalization' decree

(ANSA) - Rome, December 2 - Anti-immigrant, separatist Northern League leader Matteo Salvini on Tuesday blasted a cabinet decree that would give judges the option of letting people off for crimes punishable by up to five years in prison.
    These include coercion, fraud, property damage, and theft.
    "Utter madness," Salvini said on his Facebook profile.
    "Italy under the left has become a criminal paradise. I'm not giving up. The League will conduct total opposition to this insanity". The purpose of the decree is reportedly to lighten the justice system case load and find alternatives to prison.
    Under the decree, a motion to dismiss the case can be filed at any point during proceedings, and it will be up to the preliminary investigations judge (GIP) to make the call.
    The measure only effectively depenalizes behaviors that are not a cause for social alarm, Justice Minister Andrea Orlando reportedly said.
    The decree also streamlines procedures for extradition requests, among other measures.