A strong signal of dissent
Recent demonstrations by Italian magistrates have sparked a heated debate on the justice reform underway in the country. During the inauguration of the judicial year, members of the National Association of Magistrates (ANM) chose to display the Constitution, a symbolic gesture that underlines their opposition to the reform of the separation of careers, approved in first reading by the Chamber. This act of protest took place in several cities, including Naples, Milan, Florence, Rome and Catania, highlighting an unprecedented national mobilization.
The methods of the protest
In Naples, magistrates displayed the Constitution while the notes of the Mameli anthem resounded, a moment of great emotional intensity. In Milan, some judges and public prosecutors demonstrated at the entrance to the Palace of Justice, wearing the toga, symbol of their profession. During the inauguration ceremony, as indicated by the ANM, the magistrates will stand up and leave the Great Hall when the Government representative takes the floor, a gesture that represents a clear signal of dissent. Also in Florence, the magistrates will leave the room during the political intervention, while in Rome and Catania signs in defense of the Constitution were displayed.
The reasons for the protest
The government's proposed justice reform has raised concerns among magistrates, who fear a weakening of judicial independence and a compromise of citizens' rights. The separation of careers, in particular, is seen as a step backwards from the principles of fairness and justice. Magistrates argue that such changes could lead to less impartial justice and greater politicization of the judicial system. The mobilization of magistrates is therefore not only a protest against a specific reform, but a call to safeguard the fundamental values of democracy and the rule of law.