Final OK to mafia vote-buying law

P(ANSA) – Rome, April 16 – The Senate on Wednesday gave definitive approval to a law making it a crime for politicians to promise to buy or otherwise obtain votes gained from the mafia.BRThe bill was approved with 191 votes in favour, 32 against and 18 abstentions. The bill’s passage through parliament has been hit by fiery protests from the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement after amendments that softened it. The law amends legislation introduced after the 1992 Mafia slayings of prosecutors Paolo Borsellino and Giovanni Falcone.BRThe new bill extends the definition of the crime to anyone who promises to pay or otherwise reward the Mob in exchange for votes.BRVice versa, the bill also criminalizes anyone who agrees to procure votes in exchange for a promise of money, public contracts, political protection, or any other kind of advantage to the Mob.BRIn essence it will make it easier to prosecute both corrupt politicians and those who corrupt them, because a spoken promise will constitute enough evidence to put them behind bars.BR/P
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