Rome, Dec. 28 (LaPresse) – The President of the Court of Auditors, Guido Carlino, strongly criticizes the reform of the institution just approved by the Senate, warning that it weakens verification functions and administrative accountability. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, he explains that under the new rules, those who cause financial damage due to gross negligence will no longer have to reimburse the full amount, but only up to 30 percent and in any case within the limit of twice the gross salary. The remaining damage will fall on the administration and therefore on the public, reducing the deterrent effect of accountability and encouraging more lenient behavior in the management of public resources.
According to Carlino, the compensation cap is particularly modest when the responsible parties are private recipients of public funds or concessionaires of public works. He also criticizes the new exemption, which, in his view, could allow the introduction of illegitimate acts without the possibility of establishing responsibility. The President reiterates that the Court is willing to collaborate on implementing decrees and maintains that the “fear of signing” is more due to complex regulations and training deficiencies.
He finally warns that some provisions may weaken the preventive function of the accounting judiciary, while assuring that the Court will continue to monitor against waste and mismanagement. In his assessment, the reform marks a shift in balance between protecting the administration and controlling the use of public funds, transferring the economic consequences to public budgets. Carlino emphasizes that the Court’s role is not punitive but preventive, and that weakening controls risks producing more disputes and waste in the medium term. His warning reopens the political and institutional debate on the concrete effects of the reform and the future role of public financial controls today.