Italian government proposes law presuming minors aged 14-18 understand consequences of their actions. Proposal divides ruling coalition and draws sharp criticism from opposition.
On July 24, 2026, the Italian government discussed a proposed law at a Council of Ministers meeting that would automatically make minors aged 14 criminally responsible for their actions, unless the defense proves otherwise. The proposal has sparked strong reactions both within the ruling coalition and among the opposition.
Under current Italian law, the prosecution must prove that a minor was capable of understanding the nature and consequences of their act. The new proposal flips this: for minors between the ages of 14 and 18, it would be presumed that they possess this capacity, and the burden of proving incapacity-the so-called incapacità di intendere e volere-would shift to the defense. According to a report by Anadolu Agency, this change is the key point of the proposal.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions even within the ruling coalition itself. The Lega and Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) parties welcomed the measure, while Forza Italia gave it a cold reception, according to reporting from La Repubblica. Details on why Forza Italia is more reserved were not provided in the available sources.
Opposition parties were harsh in their assessment. According to La Repubblica, sharp condemnation came from opposition ranks: "Shameful, nothing but propaganda." Specific opposition lawmakers who made that remark were not named in the available sources, but the tone of the reactions indicates strong opposition to the reform.
The proposal comes amid a long-running Italian debate over the so-called "maranza", a term used in Italian media for young offenders who operate in groups. The Italian judiciary has been grappling for years with how to adequately respond to crimes committed by minors, and part of the public and some politicians believe that current measures are insufficiently deterrent. The debate over the age of criminal responsibility is not new, but this proposal represents a concrete legislative step.
The proposal was on the agenda of the Council of Ministers meeting on July 24, 2026, but the final outcome of the vote and any subsequent steps in the legislative process had not been confirmed from available sources at the time of publication. Whether the proposal will pass in its current form or be amended under pressure from Forza Italia and the opposition remains an open question.
