Rome, Jan. 10 (LaPresse) – “This referendum is politically crucial because we must defend the independence of the judiciary from attacks coming both from the government and from specific political forces,” said Giorgio Parisi, Nobel Prize winner in Physics, during the launch of the campaign for a No vote on the referendum on justice reform, held at the Frentani Center in Rome. Parisi emphasized that a fragmented High Council of the Judiciary (CSM) would be much weaker and more vulnerable to political pressure. The physicist compared the situation to the “divide et impera” principle used by the Romans to dominate half of Europe, highlighting how a CSM divided into small parts could be easily manipulated.
According to Parisi, the idea of using a lottery to select members of the CSM is “ridiculous,” as it would eliminate the possibility of having experienced and authoritative magistrates within the Council. Random selection, he explained, would prevent a single CSM from being represented by a sufficient number of magistrates competent in complex matters. “The Italian Constitution does not provide for parliamentarians to be chosen at random,” he added, criticizing the proposed reform.
Parisi also stated that politicians would benefit from a weakened and more easily manipulable CSM, allowing them to fulfill a “dream” they had long nurtured: having a judiciary incapable of putting them under pressure. He concluded his speech by reaffirming that the fight is not only about defending the judiciary, but above all about protecting its independence from political forces, particularly those on the right, who fear a judicial system capable of challenging them.