During a recent meeting with the European Network of Councils for Justice (Encj), Sergio Mattarella, the President of Italy, highlighted the serious consequences of an erosion of the rule of law in some Western democracies. He emphasized that when spaces of independence are taken away or politically influenced, it can compromise the appointments and careers of magistrates.
Mattarella spoke about the collective duty of European judges to protect their independence and oppose any act that could threaten it. He stated that independence is a fundamental principle that ensures that all power is subject to the law. Without this principle, the rule of law would be seriously undermined.
According to Mattarella, every judge has a responsibility to safeguard their own independence as well as that of their colleagues. It is a right held by every citizen and constitutes a prerogative of each individual judge. The judiciary plays a critical role in protecting rights, and without its independence, equality and dignity are undermined.
