Mattarella: other institutions respect the Csm. Nordio: 'I will comply'

"As president of the republic I feel the need to firmly renew the exhortation to mutual respect at all times, in all circumstances in the interests of the republic". This was said by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in his surprise address to the plenum of the Superior Council of the Magistracy of which he is president (the councillors had only been informed in the morning of the presence of the President of the Republic). Mattarella emphasised 'the role of constitutional importance of the SJC' and 'above all the need and the intention to reaffirm the respect that must be nurtured and shown particularly by other institutions towards this institution'.

Words that come after days of growing tension over the referendum between Justice Minister Carlo Nordio and the No front. The Guardasigilli had spoken of 'a self-referential consorteria' within the Csm between the currents of the judiciary that only the draw introduced by the majority reform 'can eliminate'. And he had added: 'The draw breaks this para-mafia mechanism'.

'I am aware,' Mattarella noted in his speech, 'that the presence of the President of the Republic for the ordinary work of the Council is not usual. As far as I am concerned, it has never occurred in eleven years. I was induced to this decision by the need and desire to emphasise, once again, the value of the role of constitutional importance of the SCC'. The Head of State then suspended the plenum session of the SCM after the unanimous vote on the 9th Committee's file on an EU-funded judicial training project 'Judialogue' and left Palazzo dei Marescialli.

"We appreciate and totally share the exhortation of the President of the Republic who, as guardian of the Constitution, feels the need for mutual respect between institutions, especially at a time when the tone of political confrontation tends to exacerbate,' Nordio commented. Then the commitment: 'We will play our part in keeping the referendum dialectic within the limits of a healthy, calm and respectful opposition, albeit in convinced support of our reasons. "I will adapt, of course. I will try to be as adherent as possible, as I think I have been in the past,' Nordio added.