Italy is falling behind in the fight against corruption: the country slips to 52nd place in the world and 19th in Europe according to Transparency International. The prosecutor of Naples raises the alarm: "Without adequate tools, steps backwards are inevitable".
“These numbers are predictable,” he said in an interview with Il Fatto Quotidiano. “Criminal organizations control large portions of the economy in exchange for contracts and favors from the public administration, guaranteeing packages of votes in return.”
The crackdown on interceptions
The analysis of Gratteri It is also linked to the reform on wiretapping, which the Chamber could definitively approve as early as Monday. The rule provides for a 45-day limit on wiretapping, with a single exception for mafia and terrorism crimes.
A choice that, according to the magistrate, risks hindering investigations into corruption. “Why introduce this time limit?” Gratteri asks. “We magistrates do not intercept 'by trawling', as Minister Nordio claims. If a call does not bring results, we ourselves ask for its revocation”.
“Corruption and Mafia, a Link to Recognize”
For Gratteri, the risk is clear: with this reform, identifying corruption crimes will become even more complex. "The 45-day limit also concerns crimes against the Public Administration. This is a mistake. Corruption and organized crime are closely connected and should be treated in the same way. If corruption crimes are not included among the exceptions, as for the mafia and terrorism, the fight against corruption becomes just a sophism".
Article published on 12 February 2025 - 14:23
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