Conte and the Covid commission: 'The right doesn't want to hear me, just run a circus. They rewarded those who accused my government'

Giuseppe Conte, leader of Italy's Five Star Movement, has fiercely criticized the parliamentary commission investigating the government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Conte alleges that the commission, dominated by members of the ruling Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, is not genuinely seeking truth but rather orchestrating a "circus" to tarnish his reputation. He claims they deliberately avoid hearing his testimony while simultaneously promoting a smear campaign through friendly media outlets.

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They have no real interest in hearing me. The judiciary has investigated for years and I have not even been grazed on these matters, but they have set up this 'circus' to fuel a mudslinging campaign with the newspapers and TV shows of their friends. They think they can intimidate me, but at Palazzo Chigi, where they orchestrated everything, they don't know me well.

Conte stated he is ready to resign from the commission once his hearing is scheduled, a move he requested two years ago. He accuses commission president Lisei of FdI of consistently ignoring his requests for an audit while engaging in what Conte calls "delirious" daily attacks. In contrast, he notes that FdI member Bignami quickly agreed to be heard.

"They have no real interest in hearing me," Conte asserted, highlighting that years of judicial investigation into pandemic-related matters have never implicated him. He believes the commission's actions are driven by a desire to distract from alleged "Covid scams" involving figures like Santanchè and business dealings by Delmastro linked to a front family of the Senese clan. Conte emphasized that he did not leverage his position as Prime Minister during the emergency to enrich himself or his associates.

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They can vivisect me, they will never find the shadow of a private interest. I believe this is what drives them crazy, because they are used to Santanche's Covid scam and Delmastro's corporate dealings with the front family of the Senese clan. They cannot comprehend that I did not take advantage when I was at Palazzo Chigi of the emergency to enrich myself or my friends.

Regarding accusations about faulty mask procurements, Conte explained that such matters were handled by the commissarial structure and customs agency. He pointed to expert audits and documents showing that assessments of non-compliant masks were made by unqualified companies and deemed unusable by the Rome Tribunal. Furthermore, he stated that masks supplied by the commissarial structure received prior certification from the Technical-Scientific Committee.

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If the majority really wanted to ascertain the truth, they would not have excluded the Regions' operations from the scope of the investigation. Now they want to send all their bogus conjectures to the hundred Italian prosecutor's offices hoping there will be some prosecutor who can open a file against me. But they will have to resign themselves, they will never be able to tarnish my honorability.

Conte also criticized the government's agreement with businessman Dario Bianchi before an appeal verdict, calling it "grossly irresponsible." He noted that the initial ruling was "abnormal" and that the commission had never provided updates on the case despite repeated requests. He dismissed the idea that Italians, struggling with economic hardship, would be deceived by the commission's tactics, predicting they would not fall for the government's alleged attempts to influence the upcoming election campaign.

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The first-instance ruling was abnormal and signing the settlement without even waiting for the urgent measure is a serious irresponsibility. We asked the Commission for updates on the case for months but they never gave us any.