Overview
- President Sergio Mattarella made a rare appearance chairing the CSM and urged all institutions to lower the rhetoric and respect the judiciary’s self-governing body.
- Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said he shares the president’s call and will adjust his tone after earlier describing CSM factional dynamics as a “para‑mafia” system.
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised Mattarella’s message yet continued posting videos attacking a “politicized” segment of the judiciary, citing the Palermo order awarding roughly €76,000 to Sea Watch and, hours later, a Catania ruling lifting a Sea Watch ship’s detention.
- Palazzo Chigi has commissioned large-scale polling from Tecnè worth about €146,400 and is planning events to mobilize turnout, with allies warning against turning the vote into a plebiscite on the government; a Tecnè survey reported by Panorama shows the Yes side ahead among likely voters but low projected participation.
- The referendum on March 22–23 concerns the Nordio reform creating a single 15-member Alta Corte for magistrates’ discipline and ending the president’s presiding role at CSM disciplinary proceedings, a change defended by the government and sharply contested by opponents and legal scholars.