Italian Parliament Blocks Prosecutor Request for Delmastro Chat, Sparks M5S Protest

The Chamber of Deputies’ Giunta per le autorizzazioni a procedere voted to refuse the Rome prosecutor’s request to obtain the instant‑messenger chats between former Justice under‑secretary Andrea Delmastro and restaurateur Mauro Caroccia, who is convicted for links to the Senese mafia clan. The Giunta argued the request was overly generic and lacked temporal limits.

The decision triggered a dramatic protest by Five Star Movement (M5S) legislators in the Senate, who occupied the government benches and displayed “Fuori le chat” (Remove the chats) placards. The session was suspended by the presiding officer. Opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, demanded an immediate vote in the Chamber, scheduled for 30 July, arguing the chats are essential to investigate alleged money‑laundering and fictitious asset registration tied to the mafia.

Government supporters, led by the centre‑right majority, defended the vote as a legitimate assessment of the request, while M5S leaders and other critics accused the majority of shielding a political ally and obstructing the fight against organised crime.