ROME, July 23: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi won parliamentary approval on Wednesday for a law-and-order package of reforms that takes aim at illegal immigrants whom his government blames for much of Italy’s crime.

Among the items covered in the law, ranging from mob crimes to drunk driving, is a measure making it easier to expel foreigners. Another provision allows authorities to confiscate property rented to illegal immigrants.

Immigrants in Italy illegally also face heavier sentences if convicted of crimes.

The conservative prime minister issued many of the measures by decree shortly after taking office in May, declaring “citizens have a fundamental right not to be afraid”. He needed parliamentary approval to convert them into law.

“The left, more than once, has claimed there is no relationship between immigration and criminality,” said Sandro Mazzatorta of the anti-immigrant Northern League party, speaking on the floor of the senate.

“Foreigners committed 60 per cent of the attempted homicides, 60 per cent of the robberies, 82 per cent of the muggings,” he added, referring to 2007 data for the northern city of Brescia. Critics say such comparisons could fuel racism.

Berlusconi’s legislation included a provision that allows soldiers to patrol the streets along with police. A measure also makes it easier to seize mobsters’ assets while another creates stiffer penalties for drunk driving.

The 71-year-old prime minister also originally included in the draft legislation a controversial measure that would suspend all non-urgent cases for a year, but that was significantly watered down in the final version.

Supporters had said the proposal would help clear a judicial backlog so that the most heinous criminals could be tried. But critics said it was designed to help Berlusconi sidestep his own legal headaches, including a graft trial in Milan.

The final legislation approved by the senate leaves it up to judges to decide whether to suspend non-urgent trials for 18 months.

Berlusconi on Tuesday won parliamentary approval for legislation giving him and Italy’s three other top elected officials —the president and the heads of the two chambers of parliament —immunity from prosecution while in office. Still, Berlusconi could still opt out of using the immunity in cases against him.

This includes a Milan trial involving him and British lawyer David Mills.—Reuters