Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni is insisting on a drastic reform of the justice system, poised for an aggressive confrontation with the nation’s courts. The bills, designed to reshape the court system, have attracted stinging opposition from judges, who announced a unprecedented general strike for Feb. 27.
In contrast to her late political idol, Silvio Berlusconi, who failed to impose his will on Italy’s judiciary, Meloni enters this fight unencumbered by personal legal issues. Her administration contends that the existing judicial framework is not accountable, with Meloni accusing the judiciary of self-regulation, saying errors committed by judges go unpunished.
Italy’s judicial system is one of Europe’s slowest, with both criminal and civil cases lingering on for years without a verdict. Previous administrations had concentrated on addressing inefficiency, but the government of Meloni is coming more forcefully against this, recommending segregation of prosecutors from judges in the interest of justice.
Deputy Justice Minister Francesco Paolo Sisto compared reform to having referees in a football game remain impartial. But critics, including senior prosecutors, caution that the reforms would end the independence of prosecutors, reducing them to nothing more than law enforcers.
The judiciary’s resistance has intensified amid government accusations that courts are deliberately obstructing policy initiatives. Recent rulings have stalled Meloni’s controversial plan to detain migrants in Albania, while a prosecutor’s probe into her cabinet over the release of a wanted Libyan official further fueled tensions.
With the reform bill already passed in the lower house, it now faces Senate approval and a likely referendum. Analysts suggest Meloni’s strong political standing may help her push through the changes, reinforcing her image as a decisive leader taking on entrenched institutional power.
