Association chief defends judiciary against PdL
'No acceleration' against Berlusconi, says judge's head
11 March, 18:01
(ANSA) - Rome, March 11 - The president of the Italian judges' association roundly defended the judiciary against centre-right accusations of political meddling in a television interview on Monday. "The scope of the judiciary is not political. The legitimation of the judiciary is not based on consensus but on its professionalism and credibility, which stem from respect for the law," Rodolfo Sabelli, head of the National Magistrates Association (ANM)told Sky TG24.
Irate MPs from Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party (PdL) staged a protest on the steps of the Milan courthouse, accusing the judiciary of "persecution". We are here "to defend democracy from the attempt to subvert the popular vote," ex-education minister Maria Stella Gelmini said.
PdL politicians railed against a cascade of recent developments in the numerous criminal proceedings against the ex-premier as being politically motivated.
PdL party secretary Angelino Alfano even threatened to boycott the first sessions of the newly elected parliament, and appealed for the intervention of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and the head of the Supreme Council of Magistrates.
"I do not believe there has been any acceleration (of judicial proceedings) against Silvio Berlusconi. We talking about different proceedings that are in different phases," Sabelli underlined.
"It is not my competence, nor that of the judiciary to make political assessments. With respect to the new government, we have nothing to say. We do not want to condition, nor be conditioned," Sabelli added.
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