Berlusconi Cabinet backs judicial overhaul

Italy’s Cabinet yesterday adopted a controversial draft Bill to overhaul the justice system as Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faces trials for corruption, a sex crime and abuse of power.

The 16-point reform would make judges liable to pay damages in case of judicial errors and restrict the investigative powers of prosecutors, who are often accused of left-wing bias by tycoon-turned-politician Berlusconi.

The constitutional reform would need to be approved by two-thirds majorities in both houses of Parliament or be put to a popular referendum.

Experts say it is highly unlikely the reform will come any time soon as the government only holds a narrow majority in the lower house Chamber of Deputies.

The reform is being seen by political experts as part of a fierce battle between Mr Berlusconi and Italy’s prosecutors. The left-wing opposition accuses Mr Berlusconi of creating laws in order to dodge his own prosecution.

The Italian leader is set to stand trial on April 6 on charges of having sex with an underage prostitute and then using the power of his office to try and cover up the crime – criminal allegations that he has flatly denied.

Asked at the press conference following the cabinet meeting in Rome whether there was any link between the reform and the sex scandal involving a pole dancer known as “Ruby the Heart Stealer” he said: “Absolutely zero.”

“We have been planning practically since 1994 when we entered politics,” he said, referring to the year in which he first won a general election.

“This will raise our country to the same level of civilisation of the great democracies, starting with the United States,” he added.

Mr Berlusconi also said he was looking forward to taking part in the trials against him, adding: “I will explain to Italians how things really are.”

Franco Pavoncello, a professor of political science at John Cabot University in Rome, said the reform was “a double-edged sword” for Mr Berlusconi. “He can argue that the judges are ganging up against him while he tries to reform the judiciary, giving a political character to his trial,” he said.

“But on the other hand the reform is weakened by the fact that it is put forward by a government whose Prime Minister is about to go on trial.”