Fazzolari comments on referendum regarding justice system: Putin would vote 'no'

Undersecretary of State at the Prime Minister's Office of Italy, Giovanbattista Fazzolari, caused a stir by linking the issue of internal judicial reform with the Russian leader. On the sidelines of a conference by the Brothers of Italy party at Palazzo Giustiniani dedicated to disinformation in the context of the war in Ukraine, Fazzolari, considered the right-hand man of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, responded to a provocative question from journalists about the upcoming referendum on justice reform. He then stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin „would vote no”. „„Beh in Russia non mi risulta che ci sia la separazione”” — Giovanbattista Fazzolari The comment, although made with a smile and as a sharp retort, clearly indicates how the government perceives the significance of this vote, juxtaposing opponents of the reform with the Russian regime. The conference where these words were spoken took place on the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and concerned combating Kremlin disinformation. Fazzolari also emphasized that people opposing support for Ukraine, like General Roberto Vannacci, whose previous statements were critical of Kyiv, exclude themselves from the governing coalition. The reform of the Italian justice system, often called „career separation”, aims to separate the career paths of judges and prosecutors, which, according to its supporters, will increase judicial independence. This idea has been returning to public debate for many years, but previous attempts to implement it have met with strong resistance from parts of the legal and political community. The upcoming referendum, which Fazzolari spoke about, is set to be a key test of public support for this project, which is a flagship electoral promise of Prime Minister Meloni. The undersecretary's statement is interpreted as an attempt to give the vote a geopolitical and value-laden dimension, where the „yes” option is identified with support for Western democratic standards, and „no” with pro-Russian sympathies. career separation This rhetorical maneuver has been met with criticism from parts of the opposition, who accuse the government of instrumentalizing the war topic for internal political struggle.