Giuseppe Conte defends COVID mask procurement amid €100 million controversy

Former prime minister Giuseppe Conte says he has been waiting two years for a hearing from the Covid commission to address questions about mask purchases made during the pandemic. He announced he will resign only after a hearing date is set, accusing the leader of the far‑right party of ignoring his requests and framing the commission as disinterested.

Conte claims judicial investigations have cleared him, noting that the Rome tribunal confirmed that the masks in question were supplied by companies lacking proper qualification. He also contests a €100 million transaction with a firm whose contract was revoked, saying the payment was politically motivated and that funds were diverted from urgent health needs.

Journalist Tommaso Cerno echoes the controversy, accusing Conte and the centre‑left of using the €100 million compensation case as a political weapon. Cerno points to mismanagement of mask procurement during the emergency, citing a court ruling that condemned the state for the faulty purchases. Both sides portray the issue as a political battle ahead of upcoming elections.