Justice reform against spirit of Constitution - union

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 16 - Giuseppe Santalucia, the president of Italian magistrates union ANM, said Monday that a justice reform currently being examined by parliament might formally respect the word of the Italian Constitution, but it is "not very compliant" with its spirit.
    Santalucia was addressing an assembly of magistrates at Milan's Palazzo di Giustizia courthouse as Italian judges and prosecutors staged their first one-day strike in 12 years.
    The protest is targetting the reform drafted by Justice Minister Marta Cartabia and the amendments to it passed in parliament.
    Santalucia said it was an attempt to "control magistrates".
    The ANM is particularly irked by the plan to introduce a so-called 'report-card' system for magistrates' promotions.
    This would take into account factors such as the time it takes magistrates to do certain procedures and the number of their rulings that are overturned at subsequent levels of justice.
    Reforming Italy's snail-paced justice system is required to qualify for EU post-COVID recovery funds.
    The reforms come after recent scandals involving magistrates and politicians dented the credibility of the judiciary.
    The scandals involved influence peddling and corruption and led to calls, including from President Sergio Mattarella, to root out cronyism and factionalism in Italy's judiciary.
    The overhaul also seeks to end the 'revolving door' system whereby magistrates can become politicians and then get their old jobs back.
    Judges who take up politics and get elected to public office will no longer be able to return to their positions once their terms in office are over.
    Judges who are elected to the Italian or European parliament, to regional or town councils or who win mayoral elections will be given administrative roles in the justice ministry after their terms end and will not be able to rule on cases.
    Furthermore, magistrates who run for office and do not get elected or who are appointed to non-elected positions in government will not be able to act as judges for three years afterwards.
    It will also no longer be possible for judges to continue working and hold political posts at the same time, even if in different regions. (ANSA).