The Lower House on Thursday gave the
first green light to a bill to separate the career paths of
prosecutors and judges, so they can no longer switch between the
two roles, with 174 votes in favour, 92 against and five
abstentions.
The vote is the first parliamentary passage necessary for the
approval of the Constitutional reform bill that 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.
Meanwhile, members of the left-wing Magistratura Democratica
(MD) faction in the judiciary's union, the National Council of
Magistrates (ANM), have announced a protest against the
constitutional reform bill during upcoming ceremonies to
inaugurate the judicial year.
In particular, MD candidates running for the ANM's central
directive committee in upcoming elections to be held on January
26-28 have proposed to abandon ceremonies at appeals courts
across the country to inaugurate the judicial year, scheduled on
January 24-26, as a "visible and determined sign in defence of
the Constitution".
"Magistrates, wearing their robes and holding a copy of the
Constitution, will abandon" ceremonies "in a composed way" when
the representative of the justice minister speaks, according to
a statement issued by MD's candidates.
National Association of Magistrates (ANM) President Giuseppe
Santalucia has said that the Constitutional reform bill would
put a strain on the Constitution, announcing that ANM will
strive to inform the public about its potential impact in the
event of a referendum.
ANM has long criticized the Constitutional reform bill, drafted
by Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, saying it will weaken the
judiciary.
Leaving the Lower House on Thursday after the vote, Nordio said
that "ANM is a very respectable union, like all other unions",
adding however that it shouldn't question the government's
motives by claiming the reform is aimed at placing State
attorneys under the executive's control.
"Everyone has the right to express their opinions, even if they
disagree.
"I hope there will be a rational debate" including the
"arguments in favour and against" the reform that are explained
in a simple manner "and not in argumentative and apodeictic
terms", Nordio went on to say.
The minister stressed that he hoped there would be no "judgement
of intentions", citing allegations that the Constitutional
reform bill will "sooner or later place prosecutors under the
executive, something that has been radically ruled out".
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