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Melon's Big Bet

2026-03-18 23:47:10Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Melon's Big Bet
Giorgia Meloni

Financial Times/ In the biggest gamble of her term so far, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is asking voters to approve constitutional amendments to reorganise Italy's judicial system, known for its strong independence, through a two-day referendum starting on Sunday.

As an Italian magistrate in the 1990s, Gherardo Colombo was one of the prosecutors behind the sensational “Clean Hands” investigation, which uncovered a network of bribery and illegal political financing so widespread that it destroyed the credibility of the Italian political establishment.

The scandal caused the collapse of the main political parties, paving the way for the entry into politics of media magnate Silvio Berlusconi. It also marked the beginning of years of clashes between Berlusconi and magistrates, whom he denounced as “communist judges” intent on destroying him.

Today, Colombo, now 79, expresses concern about constitutional changes that he fears will make it more difficult for future generations of magistrates to prosecute corruption cases.

Meloni insists that reform is necessary to correct the "dysfunctioning of the justice system," which in Europe is known for its slow pace and unpredictable results.

"If justice doesn't work, if it's slow, ineffective, unfair, then the whole machine stops and everyone suffers ," she said at a rally in Milan last week.

But the idea of ​​a prime minister with neo-fascist political roots changing the legal order of Italy's anti-fascist constitution is proving highly controversial.

Opponents warn that the changes will weaken democracy's checks and balances and suggest that Meloni aims to lead Italy down the path followed by Viktor Orbán in Hungary, who took greater control over the courts to consolidate power.

Colombo has publicly criticized what he sees as a blatant attempt to limit the autonomy of the courts. “The more I analyze it, the more convinced I am that this amendment only serves to weaken the judiciary,” he said. “ It will give other branches of the state, especially the government, a much greater influence over the judiciary itself.”

Whether voters accept or reject the reform will have consequences beyond the legal system, as Meloni prepares for next year's parliamentary elections, which polls suggest she is well placed to win.

Success could encourage him to pursue other constitutional changes in a possible second term, such as the direct election of the prime minister. A defeat would weaken him, despite his relatively long tenure in power by Italian standards.

This could also affect her international reputation. In office, Meloni has distanced herself from her past as a far-right populist and has been accepted as a pragmatic conservative with whom Europe can cooperate. But if the reform is perceived as subjugating magistrates, it could reignite concerns about an illiberal political agenda.

Constitutional referendums have toppled prime ministers before. A decade ago, Matteo Renzi’s reformist government ended abruptly after voters rejected his sweeping constitutional changes. Although Meloni insists she will not resign, her allies acknowledge that a “No” victory could change Italy’s political dynamics.

Reacting to the legal obstacles, Meloni has publicly criticized the judges for "unacceptable interference," accusing them of exceeding their powers over the decisions of the government and Parliament.

Opposition parties claim that the reforms will give the government more leeway with less legal oversight, without solving the system's real problems, such as overload, staff shortages, and backlogs of cases.

"This reform aims to dismantle the balance of powers provided for in the constitution. Behind it lies a punitive purpose against the judiciary. The government wants a free hand to act without obstacles ," said MP Debora Serracchiani.

The government argues that the reforms are a logical evolution towards a more "American" system, where judges are neutral arbiters between the prosecution and the defense, unlike the traditional European model where judges and prosecutors cooperate closely.

Meanwhile, a proposed change would see the governing bodies of magistrates divided into three separate parts, an idea long supported by many experts.

But the reform also includes a more controversial element: magistrates will no longer be elected by their peers for self-governing bodies, but will be selected by lot. Critics see this as a way to weaken the judiciary's independence from politics. Supporters of the reform deny this, saying there is no risk that it will lead to political control over the judiciary.

In her efforts to gain support, Meloni sometimes presents the reforms as technical changes, sometimes as a way to show judges “their place.” In a recent video, she called the amendments “ common sense proposals” to make the system more modern, meritocratic, autonomous, and accountable.

However, in other campaign materials, she and her allies have called on voters to support the changes as a response to judges who have not aligned with the government's policies on immigration and public order.

Public opinion polls have been suspended, but until then the race seemed close, with the “No” camp gaining ground. Many voters are expected to use the “No” vote as an expression of broader dissatisfaction with the government. The public debate has often escalated into heated arguments, with politicians and judges exchanging harsh accusations.

Naples prosecutor Nicola Gratteri sparked controversy when he said that “honest people” would vote “No” while others, including those under investigation and the centers of power, would vote “Yes.” He was criticized by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who said his comments did not reflect the truth.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio called the council of magistrates a "para-mafia", prompting strong reactions.

"The parties are giving their worst, it is a mutual delegitimization," said former Constitutional Court president Augusto Barbera.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella, concerned by the tone of the debate, unexpectedly attended a meeting of the council of magistrates to show support. He stressed the constitutional importance of this institution and the need for respect for it.

Despite the tensions, supporters of the reform believe it will strengthen Italy by restoring balance between the government, parliament and judiciary.

"The three pillars of democracy must be in balance, but that does not mean they must be at war with each other," they say.

However, some experts remain skeptical about whether these changes are the right solution to the problems of the judicial system, whether this reform was truly needed.


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