A cabinet meeting was suspended on
Thursday amid tension within Premier Mario Draghi's government
over a reform drafted by Justice Minister Marta Cartabia aimed
at speeding up Italy's criminal-law system.
Speeding up Italy's notoriously slow judicial system is
necessary, among other things, because the granting of EU COVID
Recovery Plan funds is conditional upon it.
It its current form, the reform sets a two-year limit on the
time it takes to rule on first appeals, and a further one-year
limit on appeals to the supreme court - barring mafia and the
other most serious crimes that would have the one-year
extension.
The judiciary's self-governing body, the CSM, has said a huge
number of cases would end up being shelved if the reform is
approved as it is.
The 5-Star Movement (M5S) has demanded changes to the reform to
stop this happening.
There is speculation the M5S could abstain in a cabinet vote on
the reform if it is not possible to reach a compromise.
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