Giuseppe Conte has returned to the political arena and has made strong remarks regarding Italy's ongoing justice reform. He accused the government, led by Minister Carlo Nordio, of pursuing a 'criminal policy design' with this long-awaited reform, which has been a subject of debate in Italy for over thirty years. His comments come amid a backdrop of tension after a recent survey suggested a significant portion of his party's base, the Five Star Movement (M5S), may support the impending referendum on the justice reform.

The comments from Conte reflect the internal turmoil within the M5S, where recent polling by Antonio Noto has confused officials, revealing that 25% of their electorate plans to vote 'Yes' in the referendum. This data is particularly concerning for the party as it comes on the heels of a detailed argument presented by prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, who made headlines by stating that anyone voting 'Yes' is a 'criminal.' This kind of rhetoric is likely to intensify the political stakes within the M5S and may challenge Conte's leadership.

As political tensions heighten, the implications of Conte's statements could lead to a deeper divide within the party and impact future electoral chances. The party's alignment on critical issues such as justice reform will be closely monitored as it could define their strategy heading towards the upcoming elections. The situation continues to evolve as both sides prepare for robust debates influenced by internal and external public opinions regarding these pivotal reforms.