Elon Musk against Italian judges on the migrant case: the political clash between the judiciary and the center-right heats up.

Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of the social network X, has entered the Italian debate on the management of migrants with a bang, attracting a wave of criticism from the judiciary and political forces. Musk's tweet, which openly calls for the removal of the judges of the Court of Rome responsible for the suspension of the validation of the detention of seven migrants taken to Albania, has sparked a controversy between those who support the independence of the judiciary and those, like the Meloni government, who intend to change the Italian judicial system.

Musk, who in recent months has assumed a leading role as a political interlocutor due to his closeness to the newly elected American president Donald Trump, spoke out harshly. The billionaire called Sea Watch, the German NGO that operates in the Mediterranean to save migrants, a “criminal organization,” immediately finding support from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini, who said he “agreed” with Musk.

The judiciary's reaction: the ANM defends the independence of judges and accuses Musk of interference

The National Association of Magistrates (ANM) immediately responded to Musk's statements. Vice President Alessandra Maddalena expressed deep concern about the tone of the statements, stressing that this type of attack represents a threat not only to the independence of the judiciary, but also to the sovereignty of the Italian state. "Here it is no longer just the independence of the judiciary that is at stake," Maddalena said, "but the sovereignty of our country and its ability to apply the law autonomously." Criticism has focused on the impact that such public statements can have on a sensitive issue such as the application of the Cooperation Protocol with Albania, which provides for an acceleration of migrant repatriation procedures.

According to Maddalena, the decision of the Court of Rome to suspend the detention of seven migrants, precisely to guarantee a trial in accordance with international law, is a forced choice for the judges, who must move according to the existing legal framework, even if this can lead to conflicts with the current political direction.

Justice reform: the government aims at career separation

The debate triggered by Musk comes at a particularly delicate time for the Meloni government, which has been working on justice reform for months. The proposed constitutional law for the separation of careers is at the heart of the government's program and intends, in the words of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, "to eliminate the weight of politicized currents in the judiciary", thus allowing greater autonomy of the judiciary from external influences, but maintaining control over the application of the law. The reform, already under examination by the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Chamber, should arrive in the Chamber on November 26, but it is likely to be postponed to the 29th, when the process of four parliamentary readings necessary to approve the bill will begin.

The Deputy Minister of Justice, Francesco Paolo Sisto, explained that if the measure is not completed within the established deadline, the government will proceed with the basic text anyway, demonstrating the will to accelerate a reform that could profoundly change the Italian judicial system.

Opposition condemns Musk and defends the judiciary

The opposition forces also quickly intervened to condemn Musk's words, which they called an "intolerable interference in Italy's internal affairs." The Partito Democratico, Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra, and +Europa asked Prime Minister Meloni to take a clear position and defend the independence of the Italian justice system. The opposition stressed that respect for the judiciary is essential to maintain a democratic balance, and asked for clarity on the possibility that an influential figure like Musk could intervene so directly in sensitive issues such as the management of migrants.

Matteo Salvini, however, defended Musk, believing his words were justified, and recalled his own personal experience: the verdict in the Open Arms trial is expected on December 20, in which Salvini is accused of having blocked the landing of migrants when he was Interior Minister. “Seen from abroad, all this seems incredible,” Salvini said, reiterating his position on the need for tighter border control.

Internal divisions within the centre-right

Although the government has found an ally in Musk on the issue of migrants, not all members of the majority agree with the billionaire's intervention method. Andrea Stroppa, Musk's consultant in Italy, claimed Musk's right to express his opinions publicly, referring to Article 21 of the Constitution, which protects freedom of expression. However, Maurizio Lupi, leader of Noi Moderati, called Musk's tweet "inappropriate" and counterproductive.

In the coalition, Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) defended the government's immigration policy, while declaring itself "grateful to Musk" for the support. Fabio Rampelli, vice president of the Chamber and member of FdI, stressed that Italy "is capable of defending itself" without needing to amplify internal problems internationally, unlike, according to him, left-wing forces, which often seek international support to ridicule the country.

Elon Musk's speech highlighted the deep divide between the different factions in Italy regarding the management of migrants and the role of the judiciary. On the one hand, the Meloni government sees the judges' actions as an obstacle to its political agenda and believes a radical change is necessary with the separation of careers. On the other hand, the judiciary and the opposition forces defend the independence of the judicial system, believing that this type of attack could put the country's sovereignty and the protection of fundamental rights at risk.

In this climate of tension and continuous confrontation, it seems inevitable that justice reform will become one of the central themes of the Italian political agenda in the coming months. The government's desire to push forward with this reform signals an intent for profound change, which could have a lasting impact on relations between the powers of the State and on relations with international interlocutors.