Italy's anti-migrant interior minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday hailed the passage of the populist government's contested security and immigration decree in a Senate confidence vote as "an historic day".
"An historic day for Salvini's Decreee," Salvini tweeted, later telling reporters at the upper house of parliament that the government would last its full five-year term.
"The doom-mongering jackals must come to terms with this," said Salvini, who is also deputy premier.
Salvini's controversial decree, which toughens immigration, anti-terrorism and anti-mafia rules, easily passed the Senate confidence motion with 163 votes in favour, 59 votes against and 19 abstentions
The decree must now be debated in the lower house of parliament ahead of a vote in the chamber.