Power can "inebriate" and
therefore the separation of powers into countervailing forces,
as laid down in the Constitution's checks and balances, is
necessary, President Sergio Mattarella said after the government
criticised the Bank of Italy Thursday.
He said the distribution of powers was "democracy's
antidote".
Italy's founding Charter, he said, enabled him to play the
role of an impartial guarantor of the system.
The Italian Constitution safeguards and protects independent
authorities, he said.
"Our Constitution permits overcoming obstacles and ensuring
the unity of society also because it has created a system in
which no one, on their own, can have too much power," he told
secondary school students at the presidential palace.
"There is a system that is based on the separation of powers,
on independent authorities, authorities that are not dependent
on political organs but which, having to govern technical
aspects, govern them by avoiding political choices, for the
protection of all".
Mattarella added that power can "inebriate" and therefore the
separation of powers into countervailing forces, as laid down in
the Constitution's checks and balances, was necessary.
Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini, whose League-5 Star government
has been accused of attacking bodies like the Bank of Italy and
the Audit Court when they criticised the budget, called
Mattarella's remarks "beautiful words".
European Affairs Minister Paolo Savona said "the less he
(Mattarella) speaks, the better it is".
Salvini recently said no one including the central bank would
stop the government on overhauling the Fornero pension reform.
His government partner, 5 Star leader Luigi Di Maio, said
the Bank of Italy should run for government if it wanted to make
decisions on the highly debated pension reform.
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