Giuseppe Conte defends pandemic record before Italian Covid inquiry panel

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte defended his government's pandemic response during a parliamentary inquiry commission hearing in Rome. Speaking for over three hours, the Five Star Movement leader denied any wrongdoing regarding emergency procurement and management, stating, "Scavate pure, da me nessun illecito."

Conte also mounted an offensive, announcing that he submitted an anonymous document to Rome prosecutors concerning a 100-million-euro deal with supplier JC Electronics for potentially counterfeit masks. Denouncing the parliamentary commission as a political "plotone di esecuzione," Conte engaged in heated exchanges with ruling coalition lawmakers over emergency decrees and procurement choices during the crisis.

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