Conte Faces Criticism Over Meeting on Luxury Hotel Sale Linked to Partner's Family

Giuseppe Conte, the leader of Italy's Five Star Movement, is embroiled in a political controversy following a meeting with Paolo Zampolli, Donald Trump's special envoy for global partnerships. The discussion, which took place in Rome in March, reportedly included the potential sale of the Grand Hotel Plaza, a historic property in Rome owned by companies linked to Olivia Paladino, Conte's partner.

The controversy was ignited by the right-wing party Fratelli d'Italia, which accused Conte of hypocrisy. Massimo Ruspandini, deputy group leader in the Chamber of Deputies, stated that Conte "wears the clothes of the moralist and the maximalist left leader, ready to give ethics lessons... and then takes off his institutional clothes to put on those of a luxury real estate mediator for his partner's family."

Conte has largely dismissed the allegations, telling reporters, "I talk about politics, not nonsense." Sources within the Five Star Movement clarified that Conte considered the hotel sale discussion irrelevant to his political activities. Zampolli, speaking to Corriere della Sera, confirmed the meeting was cordial and that the hotel sale was discussed for "two minutes." He added that Conte stated he was not directly involved in the matter.

Zampolli, currently on vacation in Spain, emphasized that he was not negotiating the deal himself but had mentioned it to Conte as an investor he knew was interested. He revealed that the property is seeking a price above market value, potentially around 300 million euros, and that the deal is being handled through an American real estate company. Zampolli, who has a background in real estate with Donald Trump, expressed interest in purchasing the hotel himself if the price were right, envisioning a renovation and integration into a luxury hotel chain.

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La trattativa per un affare di questo genere può andare avanti sei mesi, un anno. Per quanto ne so, non si è ancora chiusa. La proprietà vuole una cifra superiore al prezzo di mercato, ma a 300 milioni lo compro io. L’accordo dovrebbe essere fatto attraverso una società immobiliare americana.