Rome, 19 September (LaPresse) – ‘As a former magistrate, I am saddened to see that public support for the judiciary is declining.’ So said Justice Minister Carlo Nordio in an interview with La Stampa. Following the approval of the bill on career separation in the Chamber of Deputies and ahead of the referendum, the Minister of Justice said: ‘The overwhelming majority will be confirmed.’ He then expressed concern ‘that the referendum should not become a vote for or against the government, parliament or the majority.’ ‘If we discuss it, as I hope, in a calm, rational and legal manner,’ he added, ‘the outcome will be what the Italians want and will have no effect, either positive or negative, on either the winners or the losers.’ If the debate ‘were to become politicised, as happened in Renzi's time and as some people are suggesting,’ he continued, "things would change. I hope this will not be the case, because it would mean that the judiciary also intends to become politicised.‘ If the debate is civilised, ’whether we win or lose, the judiciary will retain its prestige. Otherwise, if the referendum is exploited by the judiciary, any victory on our part would be a humiliation."
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