The alleged pact between Italy’s Democratic Party and Judiciary shakes the Italian Nation

Milan, a city in the midst of a significant urban planning scandal involving an estimated 140,000 residents caught in a web of alleged illegalities, is just one node in a larger judicial storm currently engulfing Italy’s center-left Democratic Party (PD). At the heart of this unfolding drama is Dario Franceschini, a figure often described as the “grand weaver” of Italian politics. As a veteran of the Palazzo and former Minister of Culture, Franceschini leads one of the most influential currents within the PD. His political acumen and quiet influence were instrumental in the election of the current party leader, Elly Schlein, giving him a “specific weight far superior to that of many of his garrulous colleagues”. He is known for his “soft-spoken” manner, yet his words carry significant weight.

Now, Franceschini finds himself at the center of a swirling controversy, following reports of a supposed, “scandalous” pact offered to the Italian judiciary. The essence of this alleged deal, as reported by Corriere della Sera and widely discussed, is alarmingly straightforward: the PD and the wider left would pledge to block the government’s justice reform – particularly via an upcoming referendum – if magistrates, in turn, cease their ongoing investigations into prominent PD figures and administrations across Italy. While Franceschini has vehemently denied these interpretations, labeling them “fanciful” and “miles away” from his intentions, his denial came many hours after the initial reports and is viewed with skepticism by some sources.

This alleged offer surfaces as the PD faces a barrage of judicial inquiries that are “bringing to light the moral question within left-wing administrations”:

• Milan: The city’s Mayor, Beppe Sala, is under investigation in a broad urban planning probe that has already seen the arrest of an assessor, Giancarlo Tancredi. This investigation is exposing a system involving “builders, left-wing architects, and officials”, and carries the specter of a “new ‘Tangentopoli’ of urban planning”.
• Marche: The PD’s candidate for governor, Matteo Ricci, is “crippled” by an inquiry accusing him of misusing public funds for his electoral campaign. Ricci is under investigation for complicity in corruption in the “Affidopoli” inquiry, facing accusations of having overseen tenders without proper bidding. His fate now hangs on an upcoming interrogation, with the Five Star Movement awaiting its outcome to decide on their support.
• Bologna: Another inquiry targets “easy concessions”. The Corte dei Conti (Court of Accounts) found an illegitimate contract in 2024, disguised as a service tender but actually a professional consultation.
• Turin: “party bosses” are under scrutiny regarding a cooperative system.
• Puglia: Problems with the appointment of the PD president of the region

The collective impact of these investigations has, according to one source, “shattered the image of a left once touted as an example of good administration and experienced leadership”.

Should this alleged pact prove true, it would represent a profound assault on the foundational principles of a democratic state, specifically the separation of powers. Critics argue that Franceschini’s purported message to the judiciary amounts to a “constitutional extortion” and a “message of submission of the PD to this blackmail”. Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto expressed his alarm, stating that the notion of prosecutors using their power to “guide democracy” by leveraging investigations against politicians is a “weapon that makes democracy fragile”. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio also weighed in, calling it a “damagingly dangerous logic” that seeks to politicize a referendum about fundamental legal principles and individual liberties, rather than justice itself. He urged the National Association of Magistrates (ANM) to break free from this “fatal embrace with the opposition”.

In essence, the sources suggest a dangerous confluence of political and judicial interests, where legal battles are intertwined with political maneuvering, threatening the impartiality and independence of Italy’s institutions. While Franceschini maintains his statements were entirely transparent, the very existence of such an alleged dialogue highlights a deep-seated concern about the integrity of the political process and the rule of law in Italy, painting a rather grim picture of the current state of Italian political affairs.