Govt’s Reform of Judiciary Wins Final Approval Amidst Controversy

Rome: The government’s constitutional reform of the judiciary, including the separation of the career paths of prosecutors and judges to prevent switching between the two roles, completed its fourth and final reading in parliament when it was approved by the Senate. The law passed with 112 votes in favor, 59 against, and nine abstentions.

According to Ansa News Agency, the reform has faced significant opposition from the magistrates union ANM and opposition parties, who argue that it will weaken the judiciary and potentially place prosecutors under the executive’s control. The law is set to be put to a referendum, as it did not achieve the required two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament necessary to bypass this step for constitutional changes.

The government argues that separating prosecutors and judges into distinct professional groups is essential to prevent cozy relations that could undermine fair trials. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, formerly a magistrate, expressed his willingness to debate the reform’s merits with the ANM on television.

In response to the law’s approval, a No committee for the referendum was established. The committee argues that the Nordio bill could alter the relationship between politics and the judiciary envisioned by the constituent assembly, without addressing pressing issues such as the excessive length of trials. The ‘Right to Say No’ committee aims to participate in the referendum campaign to highlight why the reform may not improve the justice system and to emphasize the importance of maintaining the judiciary’s independence and autonomy as foundational values of the Republic. Another objective of the reform is to reduce the influence of factions within Italy’s highly politicized judiciary.