Italy's president dealt a blow to the centre-right government yesterday by vetoing its proposed overhaul of the justice system.
President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi declined to sign the bill into law and sent it back to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of parliament. Judges had protested the reform, saying it would curb their independence.
Although Mr Ciampi's role is largely ceremonial, he has occasionally challenged legislation pushed through by Premier Silvio Berlusconi's government.
The president, seen as politically independent, called parts of the bill "unconstitutional" and said it would reduce magistrates' autonomy.
Parliament had granted approval to the justice reform early this month.
Reacting to the veto, Mr Berlusconi said the government could introduce a few simple changes that would allow the bill to become law before the end of February.
The plan would force magistrates to choose between a career as a prosecutor or a judge. Currently, Italy's 9,000 prosecutors and judges can switch between the two career paths. It also would introduce competitions for magistrates seeking promotion and gives the government the possibility to change the way they are appointed.
His government says the reform will make Italy's notoriously slow justice system more efficient, but magistrates went on strike three times to protest the plan, most recently on November 24th.
Magistrates say the new system of selection and promotion would reduce their independence and take up valuable work hours. They also complain that the reform does not improve chronic problems like short staffing.
Mr Berlusconi, who was acquitted on corruption charges last week, has long accused magistrates of a left-leaning bias and of pursuing politically motivated cases against him and his allies. He has denied all accusations against him.
AP