Apathy and widespread ignorance: Italians face the judicial referendum

Rome, Mar. 21 (EFE).- Although it has not resonated with much of the population due to its technical nature, Italians will vote Sunday and Monday in a referendum to reform their judicial system, divided between “yes” and “no” and between large doses of apathy and ignorance.

CAMERA: CARLOS EXPÓSITO.

STATEMENTS ON THE JUDICIAL REFERENDUM.

TRANSLATIONS:

1. María, 95 years old:

"It's the right thing to do, it's fair. It's just that the Democratic Party (PD) had been calling for this for many years when it was in power. It was asking for it. Now they’re against it. These things are counterproductive. Why? Let’s try it. Because judges have made so many mistakes up until now. But they have immunity and don’t pay the price. On the contrary, they advance in their careers. Meanwhile, how many innocent people have been convicted? And then the state has had to compensate them with millions of euros. And they spend years and years in prison. To me, it’s fair that we try it."

"You can’t say that. They can’t understand that they’re wrong. They’re wrong. And this needs to be proven. We have to try, see. We have to try and have confidence. Because they, too, when they’re wrong, must pay. It’s not fair that only they pay... They have immunity and don’t pay. What’s more, they get promoted in their careers. This isn’t fair. It isn’t fair how they’ve behaved up until now. They convicted that poor Enzo Tortora, whom they (the young people) don’t know. He’s innocent. How many innocent people have they convicted? And they haven’t paid anything. The state has paid for them.”

2.- Francesco, a middle-aged man:

"Everyone agrees on the reform that was started by the left and continued by the right. The current system was inherited from fascism—specifically, the worst part of fascism, the period after 1936, when Mussolini held absolute power—and it was designed to better control the political judiciary. Because the distinction is clear, but everyone agreed until eight years ago. Now they’ve politicized it, and it’s become a political battle, no longer about the substance of the issue.”

“Those who say ‘no’ claim they’re doing so to defend the Constitution, but this is part of the Constitution’s articles that can be amended. It’s a technical matter; it only serves to implement the reform. And then I would recommend they remember what they were saying four or five years ago, because among those voting ‘no,’ even on the ‘no’ side, many were in favor of ‘yes,’ including judges and journalists, without meaning to speak ill of them."

3.- Franceso, an economics student at LUMSA University:

“No, I don’t know about it; in fact, I won’t even go vote because I haven’t informed myself in the slightest.”

“I suppose the Italian people will inform themselves about this and try to contribute to what will be the final decision, but I’m not personally interested.”

4.- Maria Chiara:

"I admit I'm not even from Rome—I'm from Naples—and well, I passed a competitive exam. As for the referendum, I think this reform is more of a risk on an issue where, if we wanted to, we could address certain aspects through ordinary legislation that could be strengthened in some way. I can’t urge anyone to say yes or no—that’s a personal and unquestionable freedom of choice—but I just hope more people will vote, that they’ll go out and vote. From my experience, I’ve seen polling stations that were far too empty, so that’s all I hope for: that people will go out and express their own opinion, since this is one of the few occasions when we can directly choose on an aspect of our Republic—that’s my true wish. Then everyone brings their own personal considerations and thoughts to the table."

“I don’t know, but I hope people have gone to inform themselves, although I think many might be influenced by the opinions of the committees or by their own political views. Perhaps there are those who are better informed or who have studied the issue, or simply those who get their information through the committees.”