Former Italian premier Conte defends Covid response at parliamentary inquiry

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte defended his government's pandemic response during an inquiry commission hearing in Rome, declaring that he committed "no wrongdoing" while managing the crisis. To testify as a witness before the parliamentary panel, the Five Star Movement leader temporarily stepped down from his seat on the commission.

Addressing lawmakers during a marathon session, Conte upheld the legality of emergency executive decrees, vaccine rollouts, and mask procurements. He revealed that he submitted an anonymous report to Rome prosecutors detailing a 100-million-euro mask transaction involving supplier JC Electronics to investigate potential counterfeit equipment. Conte rejected accusations from the ruling coalition, warning against using the panel as a political tribunal.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.