Justice, Santalucia: ‘Serious accusations from Meloni, we protect rights’

Rome, 10 January (LaPresse) – “President Meloni’s words? I think they reveal a truly dangerous misunderstanding of the role of the judiciary. And I say this beyond specific events and various controversies. From which, moreover, I have always tried to distance myself as much as possible.‘ These are the words of Giuseppe Santalucia, former president of the ANM (National Association of Magistrates) and judge of the Court of Cassation. Meloni complains that judges ’often render the work of law enforcement and parliament futile‘? ’This is, in fact, a glaring misunderstanding. It must be said with the utmost serenity: the task of judges is to protect rights. Nothing else. Therefore, it makes no sense to read and interpret it in terms of collaboration or opposition to the executive. The judiciary is separate from governments. We must take note of this and stop asking the judiciary to betray the meaning of its institutional mission,” he insists. The Prime Minister also cited the case of the imam of Turin. How can we explain what happened to those who are not familiar with the matter? ‘With a simple concept. The protection of security, an essential good, must be pursued within a framework of rules and principles that cannot be derogated from. It is not possible to seek and ensure security without fully realising fundamental rights. This is the guiding principle of all liberal democracies,’ she concludes.