Notary competition, online by mistake a file with sexist and inappropriate comments on candidates

Sexist epithets, references to religious figures, inappropriate judgments and expressions that suggest procedures that are anything but transparent. The publication (by mistake) of an excel file on the intranet of the National Council of Notaries on Thursday 19 February raised a fuss about the competition for admission to the profession of about 400 notaries throughout Italy. In the document, which was almost immediately removed because it was evidently for the internal use of the commission, in addition to the results, the 250 candidates who had passed the written test (taken in 2024) were accompanied by the comments of those who had been chosen to examine them (nine magistrates, six professors, nine notaries and a magistrate of the Supreme Court as president). Evaluations that seemed to concern very little the professional profile and far too much the personal one.

'Saint of the day', 'St Bernadette', 'St Thomas Aquinas', 'St Matilda of Hackeborn'. Or phrases like 'pardoned on commercial', 'pretty', 'phenomenon??'. These are just some of the colourful judgments and periphrases one reads in the file, available on the net for a few minutes: a short time, but not enough to prevent users from downloading it and quickly spreading the screenshots among chats and blogs. But, above all, not enough to stem the irony of the web. And the indignation of those who spoke of the incident as 'yet another tombstone on meritocracy'. On social media there were many people who turned the spotlight on the seriousness of the situation, especially to the detriment of those who attempt the climb to the profession without having any drive or knowledge to facilitate them: a law graduate, for example, pointed out that "with the hard work and sacrifices that such a path requires, it is terrible that everything is debased and managed in this way".

The incident will certainly not go unnoticed. And it could pave the way for a series of measures for the annulment of the competition, the oral test of which was due to take place shortly. Codacons, meanwhile, is already considering appropriate legal action to be taken, including suspension and repetition of the written tests, as well as possible appeals in favour of those excluded. The sarcastic phrases, personal evaluations, and misogynistic remarks could, in fact, corroborate a violation of the obligation of anonymity imposed for the proper conduct of written tests in competitions. But that is not all: from several quarters, suspicions are also being raised of recommendations in favour of some candidates identified - by means of coded language - with the names of religious figures.

In a note, the National Council of Notaries announced that it had 'immediately taken the appropriate steps', reaffirming its 'confidence in the work of the competent authorities who will be able to shed full light on the affair' and expressing 'closeness to all competitors taking part in a public competition based on merit'

The reactions of politics were not long in coming, with the request for parliamentary questions to the Ministry of Justice: "The affair of the November 2024 notary competition, with the online publication of sexist and disrespectful remarks and judgments on the candidates, is extremely serious and undermines the credibility of the entire procedure," said Debora Serracchiani, the Justice Minister and deputy of the Democratic Party. "The Ministry of Justice has the task of calling the competition and the duty to supervise. If it cannot ensure the ordinary supervision of such a delicate public test, how can it think of managing a constitutional reform and its implementing decrees? Minister Nordio should immediately clarify the responsibility and the measures taken. Transparency, anonymity and respect for candidates are not optional: we will submit a parliamentary question'.