Italy's president Sergio Mattarella on Monday promulgated a controversial government decree which toughens immigration, anti-terrorism and anti-mafia rules.
The decree was approved last week by Italy's lower house of parliament in a confidence motion after a similar Senate vote on 7 November and is due to be published in the official legal gazette.
Among other things, the legislation, drafted by Italy's powerful deputy premier and interior minister Matteo Salvini, makes it easier for the authorities to deport asylum seekers who are convicted of crimes.
Mattarella approved the decree in October but in an accompanying letter to Italy's premier Giuseppe Conte he wrote that "Constitutional and international State obligations" remained.
The decree has been sharply criticised by centre-left opposition politicians, human rights groups and the United Nations.
Italian government decrees must be converted in law within 60 days of their publication.
