Italian Justice Reform Milestone: Chamber Approves Career Separation Bill, Heads to Senate for Final Push
In a pivotal advancement for Italy’s judicial overhaul, the Chamber of Deputies on September 18, 2025, approved the third reading of the constitutional bill on the separation of judicial careers, paving the way for its final deliberation in the Senate by year’s end. The vote, conducted amid tense exchanges and opposition protests, marks a significant step in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s flagship justice reform agenda, aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in the magistracy.
The measure, which passed with support from the ruling coalition, now advances to the Senate for its fourth and conclusive reading, following prior approvals: the first in the Chamber in January 2025, the second in the Senate in July 2025, and the third in the Chamber today. As a constitutional amendment under Article 138 of the Italian Constitution, the process requires two readings in each chamber separated by at least three months. With less than a two-thirds majority anticipated in the final vote, the bill is poised for a confirmatory referendum, likely in the first half of 2026, where no quorum is required for validity.
At its core, the reform seeks to dismantle the unified career path for judges and public prosecutors—currently governed by a single body, the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM)—by establishing distinct trajectories for the two roles. This separation, a long-standing demand from the right-wing coalition, would create two independent CSMs: one for judges and one for prosecutors, alongside a new High Disciplinary Court to handle misconduct cases. Proponents, including Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, argue it will foster greater impartiality, reduce perceived conflicts of interest, and align Italy more closely with European standards, where most nations maintain separate prosecutorial and judicial tracks.
The Chamber session was marked by procedural haste, with the majority invoking a “river session”—a streamlined debate format—that drew sharp rebukes from opposition parties like the Democratic Party (PD), Five Star Movement (M5S), and Greens-Left Alliance. PD group leader Chiara Braga condemned the government’s applause post-vote as “institutional arrogance,” while protests erupted in the chamber, highlighting deep divisions over the reform’s implications for judicial independence. Italia Viva, led by Matteo Renzi, abstained in earlier votes but has signaled conditional support, emphasizing the need for safeguards against politicization.
Meloni hailed the progress on social media, stating it fulfills a key electoral promise for a “more equitable and transparent justice system,” with the government confident that voters will endorse the changes at the referendum, potentially bolstering their position ahead of 2027 elections. Nordio, a former magistrate, echoed this sentiment, noting his advocacy for separation dates back to 1995.
Critics, including the National Magistrates’ Association (ANM) and opposition lawmakers, warn that the split could undermine the judiciary’s autonomy, tilting power toward prosecutors and exposing the system to political interference—echoing concerns from Italy’s history of “mani pulite” anti-corruption probes. The European Court of Human Rights has previously flagged Italy’s unified model for potential impartiality issues, but opponents argue complementary reforms, like bolstering recruitment and oversight, are essential to avoid unintended consequences.
This approval comes amid broader judicial tensions, including ongoing debates over direct election of the CSM and disciplinary enhancements. With the Senate’s timeline compressed to meet year-end goals, the reform’s fate now hinges on bicameral consensus or the ballot box, underscoring Italy’s enduring struggle to modernize its judiciary while preserving its constitutional safeguards.