Bartolozzi: 'The judiciary is a firing squad. No public apology expected

On the part of Giusi Bartolozzi, no public apology is forthcoming at the moment, and 'the case that arose after the words in which the chief of staff of the Minister of Justice called the judiciary 'firing squads' will be handled internally'. This is what we learn from several government sources. An exit that did not please Premier Giorgia Meloni at all, who was strongly against it. Bartolozzi 'must hold his tongue', one of the considerations being made within the executive in these hours, while the controversy continues to be at the centre of the debate in view of the referendum on justice. There are no drastic decisions in sight, however, and Guardasigilli Carlo Nordio himself has made it clear in recent hours that his chief of staff 'must not resign'. Yesterday Nordio, explaining that Bartolozzi "was referring to a small section of politicised judges", said he was certain that "she will have no difficulty in apologising for words that, I am sure, do not reflect her thinking and the esteem she has for the judiciary, of which, by the way, she herself is a part".

"Vote Yes and we get the judiciary out of the way, which is pilot...they are firing squads. Execution platoons." Thus the chief of staff of the Ministry of Justice, Giusi Bartolozzi, in his speech during a broadcast on Saturday on the Sicilian broadcaster Telecolor. The sentence came at the end of a spat with Senator Ilaria Cucchi. The latter had asked the chief of staff why the government 'has all this interest in the criminal trial', when the greatest criticalities are in the civil one. 'The criminal kills people, ruins reputations, kills families,' Bartolozzi replied, 'then it may be that after 15 years a party is told that the fact does not exist. But in the meantime, criminal law touches people's lives'. Then the discussion went on and Bartolozzi added the sentence about the judiciary. Words of fire from Minister Nordio's chief of staff, which ignited the controversy with the oppositions on the day the premier took the floor directly. "Vote Yes for freer justice," said Meloni in a 13-minute video posted on social media.

After the controversy erupted over his speech, Bartolozzi explained: 'I took part in an hour and a half broadcast and from the very beginning I made it clear that the reform is made in favour of the judiciary to recover its credibility, which has unfortunately been lost by now. During the TV debate, I repeatedly pointed out that most magistrates are excellent professionals, who work in the silence of the courtroom and who do not seek the limelight. Only a small part, unfortunately the currentised one, however, governs the system'.

"I regret the words used by my chief of staff. Although uttered in the context of a long and heated televised confrontation, that statement appeared to be an attack on the entire judiciary. As is clear to anyone in good faith, the reform in no way weakens the judiciary nor is it intended to attack magistrates, but rather to restore their prestige and authority. My chief of staff has already made it clear that she was referring to a small section of politicised judges and she will certainly have no difficulty in apologising for words that I am sure do not reflect her thinking and the esteem she has for the judiciary, of which, by the way, she herself is a member'. Thus Justice Minister Nordio on Bartolozzi's words.

They attack the opposition. "We appreciate the sincerity of the minister's chief of staff, Nordio Bartolozzi, who, like his direct superior, has admitted the real purpose of the reform, that is, to take the centre-right's revenge against the judiciary, which Berlusconi's heirs have never tolerated. Telling the citizens that they must vote yes to get rid of the judiciary, seen as a firing squad, by a top member of the Ministry of Justice is a subversive message, but at least it clarifies once again why the Meloni government wanted this reform: to get rid of the judiciary. It is equally subversive that an exponent of the institutions candidly states that she is planning to flee abroad while under investigation, moreover following the shameful Almasri affair that has besmirched our institutions. The constitutional referendum is a decisive game for our democracy, those who support the yes vote candidly state that they want to undermine its foundations'. This was stated by the M5S representatives in the House and Senate Justice Committees Stefania Ascari, Anna Bilotti, Federico Cafiero De Raho, Valentina D'Orso, Carla Giuliano, Ada Lopreiato and Roberto Scarpinato.