The government’s controversial constitutional reform of the judiciary, including the separation of the career paths of prosecutors and judges so they can no longer switch between the two roles, passed its second hurdle in parliament on Tuesday when it was approved by the Senate with 106 votes in favour, 61 against and 11 abstentions.

Magistrates union ANM is staunchly opposed to the reform, saying it will weaken the judiciary and could place State attorneys under the executive’s control.

The government’s argues it is necessary to split prosecutors and judges into two separate professional groups, saying them being part of the same body creates the risk of them having cosy relations, which could mean defendants do not get a fair trial.

The bill will now return to the Lower House, which approved the bill for the first time in January, before coming back to the Senate for a second reading.

The reform is then set to be put to a referendum because two-thirds support is needed in both house to obviate the need for one in the case of a change to the Constitution.

“The constitutional reform approved today will take away guarantees for citizens,” the ANM said Tuesday. This is our main concern. And it is clear that the intent of this reform is to have a domesticated, subordinate judiciary, one which gives up its job of controlling legality. While fully respecting today’s vote and pending the subsequent parliamentary steps provided for in Article 138 of the Constitution, we will continue to intervene in the public debate to present with conviction and determination the reasons for our opposition to this bill. We will do so in the coming months and we will do so until the referendum.”