Berlusconi, who died at the age of 86 on Monday, frequently said the multitude of legal problems he endured were the result of magistrates abusing their power for political ends.

The bill includes a clampdown on the publication of information obtained from wiretaps, the abolition of the crime of abuse of office and limitations to the scope of the crime of influence peddling and to the ability of prosecutors to appeal against acquittals for less serious crimes, according to a draft.

“I’m only sorry that Berlusconi cannot witness the first step towards a radical reform to make the system centred on presumption of innocence,” Nordio told Sky television.

Nordio said the crime of abuse of office was being scrapped because it is too vague and discourages local politicians and civil servants from signing off on projects due to fears they will end up under investigation for it, thus causing “economic damage that affects citizens”.

Giuseppe Santalucia, the president of Italian magistrates union ANM, said the part of a justice bill that would stop prosecutors appealing against acquittals for less serious crimes is likely to be declared unconstitutional.

“This measure had already been introduced in 2006 by the so-called Pecorella law and rejected a year later by the Constitutional Court, which said you cannot alter the parity in the conditions of the prosecutor and the defendant,” Santalucia told Rai radio.

“Now the power of the prosecutor is being limited and there is no intervention on the other side. It’s an imbalance to the detriment of the public prosecutor.

“I think we’re headed towards another declaration of unconstitutionality.”

Nordio said the magistrates should butt out.

“It is pathological that in Italy the political world has frequently given in to pressure from the judiciary in the formulation of laws,” Nordio told Sky Tg24. “This is unacceptable.

“A magistrate cannot criticize laws, like a politician cannot criticise sentences.

“We listen to everyone, but the government proposes and parliament decides.

“That is democracy and interference is not allowed.”

ANSA