Modernizing the fight against organized crime through social integration. This is the premise of the new bill submitted to the Italian Parliament by leaders of the Democratic Party. (PD)The proposal aims to amend the Citizenship Law of 1992 to include foreigners acting as witnesses in cases against "new mafias."
An “eminent service” to democracy
Currently, Italian law allows for the granting of citizenship for "eminent services rendered to Italy" (Article 9). The new text proposes that the act of denouncing criminal networks be considered, by definition, a fundamental service to justice and democracy in the country.
"Those who choose to stand against the mafias provide an essential service to the quality of our democracy: the State must protect them and welcome them into the community.""This is what Congressman Federico Gianassi, one of the authors of the proposal, stated in..." the newspaper this Monday (20).
How would the concession work?
To prevent fraud and ensure the effectiveness of the measure, the project establishes strict criteria:
- Assessment criteria: Citizenship would be granted based on the reliability and relevance of the information and the honesty of the testimony.
- Central Committee: A committee would submit the request to the Ministry of the Interior after hearing from the Public Prosecutor's Office. (Search) competent.
- Protection: The beneficiary must be under the protection conditions already provided for by Italian law for witnesses in court.
Strategy against foreign mafias
The authors of the bill argue that the 1992 law was created when crime was almost exclusively dominated by domestic groups. Today, with the presence of foreign criminal organizations operating on Italian soil, including the Brazilian Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), the law is no longer valid. (CCP)The PD believes that encouraging whistleblowing by members of immigrant communities is a vital intelligence and security strategy.
