Heated clash a Tagada (La7) between the deputy minister of Justice Francesco Paolo Sisto and Eugenio Albamonteprosecutor of the Rome Prosecutor’s Office, on separation of careers approved by the Council of Ministers.
The former president of the ANM is extremely critical of the Nordio justice reform: “I don’t want to be a prosecutor in the new regime. Since I entered the judiciary, I have always been a prosecutor and I don’t want to do it anymore, because I don’t want to be the one who hands the police papers to the judge, nor do I want to end up under the control of the executive. In all the countries where there is a separation of careers – he explains – that is, in Portugal, in France, in Spain, the prosecutor sooner or later has ended up under the control of the executive. There is no separate and autonomous PM. So if this doesn’t happen now, it will happen later. It is inevitable, because constitutional systems work in a certain way and Sisto can say whatever he wants, but he cannot invent his own constitutional system.”
Sisto gesticulates and denies it, but the magistrate adds: “This reform is registered in the name of Berlusconi, but was Berlusconi the champion of the efficiency and effectiveness of criminal prosecution? I do not think, it seems to me that his whole story is linked to the attempt to escape trials and investigations – he adds – A reform conceived and glorified in that côté by a government that eliminates abuse of officeThat wants to eradicate influence traffickingThat he wants to remove wiretaps for corruption, do you want to strengthen the judge or do you want to undermine the autonomy of the prosecutor? The answer seems obvious to me.”
“But it’s not true – Sisto repeats several times – We also wrote that we don’t intend to affect the autonomy and independence of the prosecutor. We cannot say that what is written is not true if we wrote it. The truth is that in your opinion, constitutional reforms should not be carried out. Unfortunately for you they are foreseen.”
“The wrong ones aren’t“, comments Albamonte.
“It’s not you who says it – replies the Forza Italia parliamentarian – You can criticize them but there is a Parliament that writes the laws”.
“As long as we have freedom of speech we can say it or can we no longer express ourselves?”, asks the magistrate sarcastically.
“Of course – replies Sisto – But no one is allowed to want to impose choices on Parliament”.
“It’s really not in our power to impose anything on anyone,” counters Albamonte.
“The representation of the Italian people is not of the judiciary but of Parliament – Sisto reiterates – You apply the laws and no one must disturb you in applying the laws”.
Albamonte smiles and comments: “This isn’t true.”
“The laws – continues Sisto – are written by Parliament on behalf of Italian citizens. I want this to be clear.”
