Reform of Judiciary Set for Final Vote in House

Rome: The government’s controversial constitutional reform of the judiciary is nearing its final vote in the Lower House, following its passage in a marathon parliamentary session late on Tuesday. This reform aims to separate the career paths of prosecutors and judges, preventing them from switching between the two roles.

According to Ansa News Agency, the bill has faced strong opposition from the magistrates union ANM, which argues that it will weaken the judiciary and place State attorneys under the executive’s control. Despite this opposition, the bill was approved with a margin of 88 votes and is scheduled for its final vote in the Lower House on Thursday before returning to the Senate for a second reading.

The reform is expected to be put to a referendum, as two-thirds support is required in both houses to avoid the need for one in the case of a constitutional amendment. The government contends that the reform is necessary to ensure prosecutors and judges do not belong to the same professional body, which could lead to overly familiar relationships and potentially unfair trials for defendants.