Career separation: the first step towards reform with the 174 yes votes of the Chamber
First green light from the Chamber to the constitutional reform on the separation of careers between judges and prosecutors. 174 yes, 92 no. Now the text goes to the Senate and to further parliamentary steps.
Career separation: the first step towards reform with the 174 yes votes of the Chamber
The Chamber of Deputies has given the first green light to the constitutional bill on the separation of careers between judges and public prosecutors. The text, approved with 174 votes in favor, 92 against e 5 abstentions, provides for significant changes to the Title IV of the Constitution, introducing the principle of “distinct careers” and creating two new self-governing bodies for the judiciary: the Higher Council of the Judiciary and the Higher Council of the Prosecuting Magistracy.
In support of the measure they voted the parties of the centre-right majority, accompanied by Action and +Europe, while Italy Viva she abstained. The 5 Star Movement is against it, Democratic Party e Green and Left Alliance.
The news of the reform
The bill, approved last May by the Council of Ministers and signed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio, brings important changes to the constitutional framework:
- Introduction of the principle of distinction between judges and prosecutors
- Creation of two separate Higher Councils for the self-government of the judiciary.
- Lot drawing for the selection of some members of the CSM.
- Establishment of a new High Disciplinary Court, composed of magistrates and members "lay people“, with the function of judging disciplinary proceedings against magistrates.
Tensions during the discussion
The vote was accompanied by strong criticism from the opposition, which fears that the reform could undermine the independence of the judiciary. In particular, the Chamber rejected an order of the day presented by the deputy of the 5 Star Movement Valentina D'Orso, that committed the government not to take any initiatives that would weaken the functional dependence of the judicial police on the public prosecutor.
According to the opposition, the refusal to guarantee this principle represents a clear signal: «With the rejection of this motion, the government finally throw away the mask and shows the real plan behind the separation of careers: to take the direction of investigations away from the public prosecutor and leave it in the hands of the government», D'Orso declared.
The approved agendas
Despite the controversy, some agenda items have been approved with reformulations requested by the majority:
- Separate competitions: on the proposal of the Forza Italia MP Enrico Costa, the government will evaluate the introduction of separate procedures for access to the judiciary and prosecution services.
- Gender equality: signed by the Forza Italia MP Paul Emilio Russo, commits the government to evaluate measures to ensure gender equality in the composition of the new Superior Councils of the Judiciary.
Next steps
Given the nature of the constitutional reform, the text in question will now have to be approved by the Senate and subsequently subjected to a second vote by both houses of Parliament.
If the second vote does not reach the two thirds of the votes in favour, you will need a confirmatory referendum. The government aims to complete the parliamentary process by the end of 2025, with the aim of holding the referendum in 2026.
![Separazione delle carriere: il primo passo verso la riforma con i 174 sì della Camera]()
A heated debate on the future of justice
Career separation is one of the most divisive issues of the legislature. For the majority, the measure is a step forward towards a more fair and functional judicial system, but for the opposition and a large part of the judiciary the risk is that the riforma could compromise the independence of the investigations.
The debate will continue in the coming months, with the next parliamentary steps destined to reignite the political and institutional clash on the future of justice.
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