Separating judiciary careers not punishment - Nordio

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 15 - Justice Minister Carlo Nordio on Wednesday defended his bill to separate the career paths of prosecutors and judges, so they can no longer switch between the two roles, and said the reform was not an attempt to punish the judiciary for decisions disliked by the current government or past centre-right executives.
    "I cannot accept a trial of intentions," Nordio told the Lower House.
    "There is no 'lèse-majesté' or blasphemy in this law".
    The Constitutional reform bill also creates a high court to discipline members of the judiciary and changes the make-up of the judiciary's self-governing body, the CSM, overhauling the way CSM justices are elected, using a draw process.
    The judiciary's union, the National Association of Magistrates (ANM), has long criticized the bill, saying it will weaken the judiciary. (ANSA).