Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has publicly criticized Milanese prosecutors, asserting they are improperly substituting themselves for both voters and legislators. In a post on social media platform X, Crosetto stated: “I know no one will be surprised by my position because principles come before any political or party allegiance. I maintain the judiciary must not and cannot replace the electorate. In Milan, a segment of the investigative magistracy has even decided to supplant the legislature – in areas like urban planning, taxation, and labor law – through legal interpretations I find, in many respects, distant from statutory provisions and indeed highly dangerous.”
Crosetto cited ongoing cases against fashion and luxury companies as particularly alarming evidence, calling them “incredible” and driven by “solely ideological animus.” He further contended that legal proceedings are frequently exploited politically: “Often, these events are used as opportunities to dispose of whichever opponent happens to be targeted, because the same tactics have always been employed when roles were reversed. One need only consider hundreds of cases, later ending in acquittal, that nonetheless forced resignations and caused political calvaries.”
The Minister framed his stance as principled consistency: “For me, however, this is yet another occasion to demonstrate the difference of those who are always defenders of due process, who try to understand by reading the case files – not stopping at press conferences and headlines – who believe in liberal principles always, especially when they apply to political opponents.” He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to the presumption of innocence: “I hope that in the accelerated timescales demanded by such significant matters, the truth can emerge. Meanwhile, I continue to base my judgments on the presumption of innocence.”