Naples prosecutor Nicola Gratteri has described the victory of the "No" camp in the referendum on judicial reform in Italy as a strong signal from civil society in defense of the fundamental principles of the Constitution.
Commenting on the result, Gratteri said that the vote against the reform shows that citizens are willing to mobilize when institutions and constitutional balances are at stake. “The 'No' victory represents a clear message: civil society is alive and vigilant,” he declared.
The magistrate, who has been living under protection for about 30 years due to his fight against the mafia, had taken an active role in the campaign against justice reform and in recent months had also faced personal attacks for his stance.
According to Gratter, opposition to the reform is not a rejection of changes to the justice system, but a rejection of the way they are proposed. “It is not a rejection of change, but a rejection of a method,” he emphasized.
The prosecutor added that justice needs serious reforms to shorten the time of processes and improve the functioning of the system, but without compromising guarantees and institutional balance.
