Giuseppe Conte defends COVID-19 response before Italian parliamentary inquiry

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte appeared before a parliamentary inquiry commission in Rome to defend his government's management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conte temporarily resigned from his seat on the panel to deliver his testimony, which lasted over three hours.

During the hearing, the Five Star Movement leader stood by his administration's emergency decrees, health protocols, and vaccine procurement efforts. Rebuffing allegations of wrongdoing, Conte stated, "Scavate pure, da me nessun illecito." He also launched a counteroffensive by submitting an anonymous document to Rome prosecutors concerning a 100-million-euro transaction with supplier JC Electronics regarding potentially counterfeit masks. Conte criticized the inquiry as a political "plotone di esecuzione" while clashing with coalition lawmakers over procurement decisions.

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