Italy’s Meloni doubles down on law and order

(Giulia Poloni – Politico) Right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is passing new hard-line policing measures to style herself as Italy’s guardian of law and order, but her opponents fear her security decrees are intended to prevent critics — particularly on the left — from legitimately protesting. Her decree of Feb. 5, which greatly increases police powers, followed on the heels of violent street protests in Turin over the closure of the radical left-wing Askatasuna community center. Leaving no doubt about how the government views the danger from such clashes, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said the goal was to prevent “the return of the Red Brigades,” referring to the left-wing terror group active in the 1970s and 1980s. – Italy’s Meloni doubles down on law and order – POLITICO