Nordio: "I hope for a referendum on career separation. Garlasco? It'll end badly anyway."

The reform of the separation of judicial careers "has been a bit of a struggle and will be presented to the Senate on July 22nd. Then there will be a second, double reading, which will be much quicker, and then perhaps a referendum. Personally, I hope the referendum is held, because it's good for the Italian people to have a say." This was stated by Justice Minister Carlo Nordio , speaking at the Caffè de La Versiliana in Marina di Pietrasanta, in the province of Lucca.

"Few believed we would implement this reform, but we are," he added. "The referendum could take place in the spring. Everything will be done in this legislature," including the ordinary laws implementing the reform, "which are already under consideration. We would like the new CSM to be created with the new law."

Regarding the prison issue, the minister explained: "Our prisons have a capacity of 50,000 people, the same as 20 years ago, and approximately 60,000 inmates," but "in Italy, building a prison is a diabolical undertaking: no one wants one close to home, and then we have a lot of restrictions, and it takes 10 years just to get permits. Plus, Italy lacks space."

Regarding the Almasri case, Nordio commented: "I respectfully say that the decision lies with the tribunal of ministers. The documents will speak for themselves, and I await the decision of the tribunal of ministers. Even in Parliament, I refrained from saying many things out of respect for the tribunal. I await with great serenity and without anxiety. Whatever happens, will happen."

The minister also addressed the Garlasco case. "Whatever happens, it will end badly," he said, "because the convicted defendant, who has already served ten years, is now emerging as perhaps not the culprit. A second hypothesis has emerged, and today it emerged that there may be a third. After 18 years, I see a DNA test as difficult to prove. It's a long, costly, and painful investigation; the slowness of trials is sometimes also due to the fact that people don't want to face the evidence. In the Garlasco case, he was acquitted in the first and second instance and then convicted."