Italy political developments: immunity disputes and party friction

Italy is experiencing several political developments involving legal investigations, internal party friction, and public accusations.

A judicial investigation in Rome involving the company ‘Le 5 forchette’ has sparked a debate over parliamentary immunity. While Fratelli d’Italia deputy Andrea Delmastro is not a formal suspect in the money laundering probe, prosecutors sought to access his WhatsApp messages from a seized phone belonging to Mauro Caroccia. On August 5, 2026, the Chamber of Deputies voted against allowing the acquisition of this correspondence, citing constitutional protections.

Within the Lega party, Senator Massimiliano Romeo has challenged the leadership of Matteo Salvini. In his new book, Romeo criticizes the party’s current direction and calls for a return to its northern, federalist roots, arguing against a leadership model centered on a single individual.

In other political clashes, Fratelli d’Italia official Giovanni Donzelli criticized Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein for her recent absence from public view. Meanwhile, journalist Angela Camuso has accused ‘Report’ host Sigfrido Ranucci of making unsolicited advances during a job interview in 2018-2019. Members of Fratelli d’Italia have called on Rai to provide clarity regarding these allegations.