Italy's budget law rewrites how magistrates' pay rises are calculated from 2027

A new formula for judicial pay

Italy's budget law, known as the manovra, rewrites how pay for magistrates, lawyers and state prosecutors moves over time. Those salaries are not set in ordinary contract talks; they follow the raises granted to other public employees. Article 67 adds two corrections that take effect from 2027, after court rulings struck down the earlier calculation methods. Il Fatto Quotidiano reports that a Consiglio di Stato ruling had revised the adjustment criteria upward, creating a large arrears bill for public finances. The government presents the changes as a way to contain public spending, with no retroactive effect.

Weighted averages and excluded arrears

The first correction targets the statistics Istat uses to measure pay rises. Rather than giving every public-sector category the same weight, increases will be set through a weighted average that reflects the number of employees in each category. The second correction removes the so-called arrears components from the calculation. These are lump sums paid for contract renewals that arrived late, which would otherwise be recognised twice. According to the technical report attached to the budget, the changes avoid duplication and contain public spending.

Judicial reaction

The National Association of Magistrates (ANM) responded through a note from its president, Giuseppe Tango. He said the association would assess the provision in detail after studying it.

“It is up to the legislator to regulate the matter, while respecting a fundamental principle: the protection of magistrates' pay is a condition for safeguarding the independence of the judiciary.”

Tango also cited the Court of Justice of the European Union and the Constitutional Court as having reaffirmed that principle. He added that pay for magistrates can only be changed through measures of general application. Il Fatto Quotidiano describes the measure as part of a debate already heated by disputes over schools, health care and banks.

Pension bonus and energy aid

The budget also extends the so-called Giorgetti bonus, formerly known as the Maroni bonus, to 2027. Under article 54, employees who meet the early pension requirements by 31 December 2027 and postpone retirement can receive, tax-free in their pay, the portion of pension contributions normally paid to Inps. The technical report estimates about 7,500 adhesions to the extension, but only 15%, just over 1,100 workers, would actually be prompted by the incentive to delay retirement.

Estimated adhesions7,500

Workers prompted by the incentive (just over 1,100)1,100

Estimated adhesions

7500 workers

Workers prompted by the incentive (just over 1,100)

1100 workers

Data from the article text

Il Giornale reports that the budget also provides 6 billion euros in aid for companies for 2027 to 2030, conditional on beneficiaries investing at least 100% of the aid in cutting consumption and emissions. Of that total, 2.5 billion euros goes to energy-intensive companies and 3.53 billion euros to micro, small and medium firms that are not energy-intensive. The GSE oversees compliance and can order the aid reduced or recovered with interest. The incentives still need the approval of the European Commission under state-aid rules.