Overview

• The Constitutional Court has declared the repeal of the abuse of office crime, enacted under the Nordio law, as constitutional and not in violation of international obligations.
• Judges ruled that the UN Merida Convention does not mandate the criminalization of abuse of office nor prohibit its repeal, affirming legislative discretion in defining offenses.
• The decision follows challenges from 14 judicial authorities, including the Cassation Court, which questioned the repeal’s compliance with constitutional and international standards.
• Justice Minister Carlo Nordio praised the ruling as a step toward reducing judicial inefficiencies, while magistrates expressed concerns about potential enforcement gaps in addressing illicit conduct.
• The Court’s detailed reasoning will be published in the coming weeks, as discussions continue on potential legal measures to address any void left by the abolished offense.