A dynasty of lawyers, the leading personality in the political life of the country. A witness to the ideals and skills passed on naturally from father to son, a family devoted to the institutions, to rights, to the concept of fairness. We met Saverio and Cesare Ruperto, former Under-Secretary of State for the Interior responsible for Immigration Affairs; the second a renown jurist and former President of the Constitutional Court. “But I would like to add” Judge Cesare Ruperto says with pride – “my son is better than me, he is more of an expert… I heartily reccommend you to write that down! “.
Interview with Judge Cesare Ruperto
As far as I am concerned, it has to do with ‘temporal continuum’, from the age of 3 up until to now. I was a normal child, very fond of mechanics. I’m sorry that at that time we didn’t have all this technology, otherwise I would have been a champ.
A testimonial of your father?
When I was a magistrate already, he said to me: “ Cesare look, you have got to help me file the grounds for a verdict, you see that they want to file an appeal to … I examined it and I answered: ‘Look your verdict’s all wrong,’ and I showed him the norm under reference. He looked at me and said, ‘no, my verdict is not wrong, it’s the law that is wrong. This life’s lesson really impressed me, and then I discovered that same law had been adopted, but only following quite a hard clash in the courtroom-exactly on its legitimacy and its opportunities.
You have experienced the year ‘ 75 as a lecturer. What changes are there in the student movement today?
In my opinion, today’s students lack any ideals. I did not fully agree with the motions of the day, so much so that after being criticised, I left and. ..Even if not everything was embraceable about that movement, stilli t did have some ideals in its content. Now I only see disputes and emptiness …
What about the Italian Constitution: is it keeping up the pace?
Look, on this point there is a misconception, because all of them are right to some extent in some way. The first part, should be kept unaltered because it concerns universal and eternal principles which are an envy to all, and which have more or less been copied. But the second part, which relates to the organization of the state, is now out of date. It certainly should be changed. To what extent it should be changed and in what manner should be discussed as a top priority.
Has the European Union enhanced or suppressed the individual constitutions of various countries?
It has enhanced the protection of rights. It has been strengthened because all individual and social rights, have a dual protection: that of the State of belonging and that of Strasbourg.
How difficult has been converging differing opinions within the judiciary?
Well, I managed to merge two organizations that shared different points of view ; I was pretty young and I revived a movementde up of esteemed personalities but who were a bit of old ‘fogeys’, all great judges but not exactly young . We got closer to the other movement, despite being a little right-wing, because we had three principles: the absolute impartiality of the judge ,the fact that an association of magistrates should not be under a union which protects the economic interests of the corporation, the opposition to automatic career advance. At one stage, I saw that these principles were shared a little by everyone, and it was then that I asked to merge.
What’s it been like putting all your experience at the disposal of football?
I was called on the phone by the Commissioner at that time who was Professor Rossi, and who told me: “I phoned because the homeland needs you” etc. On the contrary, I thought, what’s up now? ‘Here it takes – he said – a President who has experience, and at the same time courage. I went there, I did my homework and then I’m left, because frankly, it is so attached to money.. Just think I didn’t even ask for my fee.
How should the next President of the Republic be?
Similar as much as possible similar to the one that we presently have. He must have the same courage, the same experience, the same impartiality in that vest. Fair like him, for me he’s been one of the best Presidents, in the top two or three in order of ‘great’ presidents. I think that President Napolitano has saved Italy.
You have been the author of a symbolic passage not only inside the court-building , replacing the crucifix with a painting. Tell us how it really went?
I had criticisms from the Court. How so, they were saying, a laic president(President De Nicola) had hung up the crucifix and now a Catholic one removes it?! The truth is that there were restorations going on to replace the inflammable curtains with other fire-proof ones. The classroom had been transformed into a yard, and so I decided to go and se eone day how things were going on and I found the crucifix covered with lime and dirt. I took it, and cleaned it and went into my Studio. When the court-room was livable again, I thought it was a good time to go beyond the controversy of the previous years, and put a picture of the Holy family. Things have been left as I put them. And to think that there’s not an inch of space in my home for a crucifix.
Interview with professor Saverio Ruperto
Much has been done so far but there is still more to do in this sense. I think the thing to put into practise every daily is the balance in the choices made and way of approaching things what that have unfortunately become a daily emergency.
In this sense, has Europe done enough?
In my opinion, Europe has taken almost no interest in the Italian problem, if we had to look at numbers, mathematically-wise, because it is true to say that in many European states there is an incoming migratory flow, but it is also true to say that the disorder and anarchy that reigns, so to speak, the migratory movements towards Italy are not comparable to what acually happens elsewhere, but this depends on the fact that we have so much coastline.
Justice reform: what direction should it take?
The criticality of any justice reform lies in the difficult dialogue between politicians and the judiciary. I think, it would be possible to operate in the sense that the parties make an effort in order to arrive at a balanced decision that is in step with the times.
How did you become fond of law?
I cannot deny, when been asked about this, the tradition lies in the family. From the wisdom of my grandfather, it became the knowledge of my father, to become my austerity. with study, I can cover up for the lack of wisdom and knowledge.
What does it mean to be the child of a President of the Constitutional Court?
I know what it’s like to be the son of Cesare Ruperto, a man who has always exercised freedom of ideas and expression in the personality of each one, starting with his children, always presenting himself as a model, but never once in his life, having waived his moral rectitude in his style.