The Senate in Rome on Wednesday approved by 109 votes in favor, 69 against and one abstention, a legislative decree that provides for the modification of public security measures.

This introduces 14 new offences and stricter penalties for punishing those responsible for squatting, for stopping vehicles during demonstrations, as well as for using so-called soft drugs.

In the case of occupation of a property, it will henceforth be possible to order its immediate evacuation, regardless of the economic and social status of the occupants.

The disobedience of prisoners in penal institutions will also be punished. In case they do not comply with the instructions and orders of the police correctional service, they will be punished with up to 6 years of imprisonment.

Meanwhile, citizens who block roads or lie on train tracks as a form of protest will be liable to be sentenced to imprisonment of 6 months to 2 years.

Opposition senators, before the vote began, proceeded to summon the chamber and complained that these new measures affect the most vulnerable citizens and limit their ability to demonstrate and publicly express any opposition.

“The government has taken a decisive step to protect citizens, the weakest social strata and the men and women who work in our police forces,” Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni wrote in an Internet post.