He entered Parliament in 1887 and was named minister of education, justice, and labour in New Zealand's first Liberal Party administration (1891 93), headed by John Ballance.
The veteran Conservative, now a backbench MP, said the IPP was indicative of an approach to justice under Labour "determined for fear of the tabloid newspapers".
But, with all respect to John Kampfner, the Lib Dems still have some way to go before they can claim the mantle of social justice from Labour.
Mr Balmelli, who accused Mr Franco of electoral fraud in the PLRA's primaries, is a close ally of Blas Llano, another opponent of the vice-president who was controversially appointed minister of justice and labour by Mr Lugo.
While personal feudal servitudes such as hunting rights, seigneurial justice, and labour services were suppressed outright, most seigneurial dues were to be abolished only if the peasants paid compensation to their lords, set at 20 to 25 times the annual value of the obligation.
But the Lib Dems say UK participation in the warrant, which was used to detain and extradite from Italy one of those subsequently convicted of involvement in attempted bombings in London in July 2005, makes it easier to bring offenders to justice and Labour says ditching it would be "crazy".
He has installed newcomers at justice, transport and labour, the less successful bits of the old Prodi administration; the labour portfolio went to Antonio Bassolino, the popular mayor of Naples.
The Labour justice spokesman continued: "The government is making a pig's ear of access to justice.
9.59am: Richard Baker, the Labour justice spokesman, is speaking now.
The Green party embraces the social justice agenda that Labour has long abandoned.
