The fight against corruption
involves the entire system, President Sergio Mattarella said on
Thursday during the opening of the academic year at the Superior
School of the Judiciary in Scandicci near Florence.
"Corruption is a commitment (requiring) the entire system,
not just one body of the State, which would be insufficient,"
Mattarella said amid fresh tension between politicians and
magistrates over recent comments by Piercamillo Davigo,
president of Italy's National Magistrates Assocation (ANM)
union, that politicians "haven't stopped stealing; they've
stopped being ashamed of it".
"For their part, political actors need to add the awareness
that corruption in their sphere is more serious because
political commitment implies the double duty of honesty for
oneself and for the citizens that are represented," Mattarella
said.
"A big alliance is needed between all the healthy forces to
further develop the necessary antibodies," he continued.
"This is a political, social and cultural commitment that
must involve the entire community, because the antibodies -
which in Italy exist, and that's not the case everywhere - are
more effective when they are present in all strata of society,
from schools to the business community, from intermediate bodies
to local institutions," Mattarella said.
To achieve lasting results the head of state also said that
politicians and magistrates needed to work in synergy, each
within their own sphere of competence.
Finally, Mattarella insisted that the length of trials in
Italy "is not an independent variable", adding that he hoped the
problem might be tackled "with determination".
It needs to be addressed "(by) judicial offices on the
organisational and managerial level. (By) parliament and the
government on the legislative level and on the level of
resources," he said.
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