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Italian Chamber rejects request to access ex‑minister Andrea Delmastro’s chat logs
The Chamber of Deputies voted 206‑133 to deny the prosecutor’s request for access to the WhatsApp chats of former Justice under‑secretary Andrea Delmastro. The decision was taken after a secret ballot on the Giunta per le Autorizzazioni’s report. Opposition deputies from the Five Star Movement staged a protest by raising their smartphones and moving under the government benches, while members of the Greens‑Left alliance covered their eyes with blindfolds.
Government leader Giuseppe Conte condemned the vote, accusing the majority of protecting “friends”, and opposition leader Elly Schlein (PD) warned against hindering the judiciary’s work. Fratelli d’Italia spokesman Galeazzo Bignami linked the issue to alleged mafia contacts, questioning the legitimacy of the request. The Giunta for the Autorizzazioni later confirmed the refusal to open a further investigation, citing the need to avoid a dangerous precedent.
Entities
Alice Buonguerrieria · Andrea Delmastro · Elly Schlein · Five Star Movement · Fratelli d’Italia · Galeazzo Bignami · Giuseppe Conte · Ignazio La Russa · Italian Chamber of Deputies · Italian Chamber of Deputies · Leonardo Donno · Loredana Frasca
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The centre‑right parties voted to reject the prosecutor’s request, while the centre‑left voted against the denial. observatorial.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Mauro Caroccia is a restaurateur detained on mafia charges and alleged front man for the Senese clan. observatorial.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The chats were sent by the Rome prosecutor’s office to the Chamber president, who then forwarded them to the Committee for authorizations to proceed. www.articolo21.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] M5S deputies displayed signs reading “FUORI LE CHAT! APRITE LA CASSAFORTE!” in the Chamber.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Opposition leaders Riccardo Ricciardi, Luana Zanella and Devis Dori called the decision an unprecedented attack on parliamentary prerogatives.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The decision to block access was described as a “gravissimo attacco alle prerogative dei parlamentari”.
- [● 4 SOURCES] President of the Chamber Lorenzo Fontana denied the Committee for authorizations to proceed request from the Rome prosecutor to acquire chats between Andrea Delmastro and Mauro Caroccia. www.articolo21.org · observatorial.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Deputy Arnaldo Lomuti opened a safe and produced a CD containing the chats.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The chats involve former Justice Undersecretary Andrea Delmastro (FdI) and Mauro Caroccia, alleged front man for the Senese clan. askanews.it · www.italpress.com · www.radiostudio90italia.it · qds.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Giunta for the Regolamento cannot replace the Giunta for the Autorizzazioni in deciding access to the chats. www.radiostudio90italia.it · qds.it
- [DISPUTED] The Giunta decided not to grant access to the chat transcripts sent by the Rome prosecutor, keeping them inaccessible. askanews.it · www.italpress.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The matter will be taken to the Chamber floor (Aula) for a vote. askanews.it · www.italpress.com