Naples - In the heated debate over justice reform, Nicola Gratteri, Naples's public prosecutor, intervenes in a clear tone.
In an interview with Corriere della Sera, the magistrate described a development he called "dangerous," explaining that the separation of careers would represent only the first stage of a broader project: "The next step," he stated, "will be the submission of criminal proceedings to the executive branch. The government will decide which crimes to prosecute and what priorities to give."
According to Gratteri, the heart of the reform isn't the balance between prosecutorial and judicial functions, but political control of the judiciary: "The aim isn't to separate the judiciary, but to control it. The aim is to allow those in government to dictate the justice system."
The risk, he continues, is a "variable geometry" justice system, where only crimes deemed relevant by those in power at a given time are prosecuted.
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The prosecutor emphasizes that the public prosecutor is not a private party, but a body that must seek the truth, even when the evidence favors the suspect: "Removing the prosecutor from jurisdiction means distorting this role. The prosecutor does not protect partisan interests and should not do so."
According to Gratteri, the reform does not make the judicial system more efficient
Gratteri also rejects the idea that the reform will make the judicial system more efficient. The priorities, he argues, are different: consolidating small courts, reducing the number of retired magistrates, stabilizing the Trial Office staff, new competitions for administrative staff, and concrete investments in computerization. "Today," he complains, "there are judicial offices that don't even have a supply of computers or printers. If a machine breaks, there are no replacements."
For this reason, Gratteri announces that he will continue to work to mobilize citizens in the referendum: "It's essential to go to vote. And it's essential to vote no."
The political battle has just begun. But in the debate over the reform that will transform the structure of the Italian justice system, the conflict over the role of the public prosecutor is already front and center.
Comments (1)
I find Gratteri's argument a bit complicated and confusing; perhaps not everyone fully understands what he means. Justice is important, and we must be careful about these reforms, which can change everything, even if we don't know how.