Italy's Big Change: Less Oversight, More Debate

Bold Move by Italian Government

Italy's government has passed a new law that significantly reduces the power of the Court of Auditors, the body responsible for overseeing public spending.

Key Changes

• Reduced Penalties: The maximum penalty for misusing public funds is now either 30% of the loss caused or two years' worth of the person's salary. Previously, penalties could be much higher.
• "Silence Means Consent" Rule: If the court does not respond to a spending request within 30 days, the spending is automatically approved. This aims to speed up procedures but has raised concerns about wasteful spending.

Government's Justification

The government argues that these changes will:

• Speed up procedures
• Encourage politicians to approve public works without fear of severe penalties

Criticism and Opposition

• Magistrates and opposition lawmakers believe the reforms will lead to waste and illegal activities.
• This is not the first clash between the government and the judiciary. Just two months ago, the Court of Auditors blocked a major government plan to build a bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland.

Upcoming Justice System Overhaul

The reform comes ahead of a bigger overhaul of Italy's justice system, which aims to separate the career paths of prosecutors and judges. The government claims this will reduce conflicts of interest and political bias. However, this reform is controversial and will face a national referendum in the spring.