Politics
The case of the steakhouse •
Delmastro case: the Executive Committee halts the acquisition of chat records between him and Caroccia. The M5S occupies the government benches in the Senate
The Montecitorio Executive Committee has rejected the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office’s request to obtain the conversations between the FdI MP and the owner of ‘Bisteccherie d’Italia’. However, the final decision will rest with the Chamber of Deputies. The Five Star Movement protests: “Executive committees have been turned into a safe haven for right-wing politicians”
The Chamber of Deputies’ Committee on Authorisation to Proceed has rejected the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office’s request to obtain the chat records between Andrea Delmastro and restaurateur Mauro Caroccia, who is implicated in an investigation into money laundering and false ownership registrations and is believed to have links to the Senese Camorra clan. The rejection of the prosecutors’ request came with the approval of the majority’s report: the centre-right voted in favour of the proposal put forward by the rapporteur, Pietro Pittalis of Forza Italia, thereby denying authorisation to seize the correspondence. The centre-left voted against it. Following the committee’s vote, the matter will now be referred to the Chamber of Deputies, which will deliver the final verdict: it is due to be debated on 30 July.
Meanwhile, controversy has erupted and the Five Star Movement has occupied the government benches in the Senate chamber: “The authorisation committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate have become a shield for centre-right politicians; the majority rejects any request from magistrates regardless of any assessment of merit,” said the Five Star Movement members. Yesterday, the Movement’s leader, Giuseppe Conte, had ‘challenged’ the majority not to grant immunity to the MP; today he spoke out in a video: “It’s unbelievable! They’ve granted immunity. Immunity to protect citizens against plummeting wages? Against the cost of living? Against sky-high fuel prices? As if! Just a short while ago in Parliament, the Committee on Authorisation to Proceed granted immunity to Delmastro of Fratelli d’Italia.” And he launched the hashtag: #FUORILECHAT: “At least do us one favour: stop talking about legality and transparency! Stop claiming that your political actions are inspired by the ideas and philosophy of Borsellino! After bailing out Santanchè, you’ve lost face yet again. We’ll be waiting for you in the Chamber over this shameful decision. We’ll give you a fight.”