# Italian Covid procurement probe: Conte confronts Meloni > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italian-covid-procurement-investigation > Updated: 2026-08-06T14:00:56.000Z. Sources: 64. Developments: 16. The parliamentary Covid‑19 procurement inquiry continued on 6 August 2026, when former prime minister Giuseppe Conte appeared before the commission. Building on his earlier five‑hour testimony, Conte delivered an anonymously sourced dossier to the Rome prosecutor. The file concerns a 2022 verbale on mask supplies from JC Electronics Italia, a firm based in Colleferro and led by entrepreneur Dario Bianchi, and questions the €100 million settlement the government signed with the company in October 2025 to resolve a legal dispute. Conte again described the commission as a “plotone d’esecuzione” and accused Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of directing political attacks, calling her the “regista” of the campaign. Meloni replied on social media, asserting that uncovering the truth about the pandemic is a right of Italians, not a political weapon, and defended the commission’s work. JC Electronics reiterated that the contract documentation had already been examined by the courts and that the masks were CE‑certified, denying any new wrongdoing. The exchange heightened the broader political clash over pandemic management, public procurement, and the use of emergency powers, with both leaders accusing each other of politicising the crisis. ## Claims - Giuseppe Conte was scheduled to be heard by the Covid parliamentary inquiry commission on Thursday 6 August at 11 a.m. (disputed by 14 sources) - Commission president Marco Lisei cancelled the hearing, citing overlapping votes in both the Chamber and the Senate. (disputed by 14 sources) - Conte announced on social media that he would “clear the fog” and is available “throughout the summer”. (disputed by 13 sources) - Fratelli d’Italia accused Conte of trying to avoid the hearing by limiting his availability to 4‑5 August. (disputed by 13 sources) - The Giunta decided not to grant access to the chat transcripts sent by the Rome prosecutor, keeping them inaccessible. (disputed by 3 sources) - Giuseppe Conte resigned from the Covid commission in order to appear as a witness before it. (corroborated by 14 sources) - The Chamber session was suspended and deputy Leonardo Donno was expelled after a heated clash between the Five Star Movement and Fratelli d’Italia over the hearing. (corroborated by 13 sources) - The Chamber of Deputies voted 206 in favour and 133 against to reject the request to authorise access to Andrea Delmastro's chat logs. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The vote on the Delmastro chat request was conducted by secret ballot. (corroborated by 7 sources) - After the vote, Five Star Movement deputies protested by raising their smartphones and moving under the majority benches. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Members of the Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra blindfolded themselves in the chamber as a symbolic protest. (corroborated by 7 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-06: Giuseppe Conte confronts Meloni over €100 million mask deal in Covid commission hearing Giuseppe Conte accused the Covid commission of being a “plotone d’esecuzione,” submitted a dossier on Jc Electronics’ mask contract and a €100 million settlement, and clashed with PM Giorgia Meloni, who said ‑ 24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giuseppe-conte-challenges-italian-government-over-covid-mask-contracts-at-parliamentary-commission ### 2026-07-21: Galeazzo Bignami blames Conte II government for Covid‑19 transparency lapses in parliamentary audit Galeazzo Bignami accused the Conte II government of hiding a secret Covid‑19 plan, mask shortages and China donations during a parliamentary audit, while opposition parties boycotted the hearing. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-lawmaker-galeazzo-bignami-wins-court-order-forcing-health-ministry-to-reveal-secret-covid-pl ### 2026-07-12: Italian probe into Chinese-made COVID-19 masks reveals alleged fraud Italy’s COVID‑19 commission uncovered a €1.25 bn mask deal with Chinese maker Anhui Zhongnan that delivered 800 million non‑certified masks, raising accusations of inflated prices and misconduct involving ex‑PM 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-probe-into-chinese-made-covid-19-masks-reveals-alleged-fraud ### 2026-07-11: Giuseppe Conte to be heard by Italy's Covid inquiry commission on Aug. 4 Italy's Covid inquiry commission, led by Marco Lisei, scheduled former PM Giuseppe Conte for an August 4 hearing, urging a sincere appearance. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giuseppe-conte-to-be-heard-by-italys-covid-inquiry-commission-on-aug-4 ### 2026-07-08: Riccardo Fraccaro mask scandal resurfaces as Giuseppe Conte promises parliamentary seat Riccardo Fraccaro admitted he never opened a 2020 dossier on counterfeit Chinese masks, sparking renewed scrutiny of the pandemic procurement scandal, while Giuseppe Conte is said to be offering him a blocked ‑ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/riccardo-fraccaro-mask-scandal-resurfaces-as-giuseppe-conte-promises-parliamentary-seat ### 2026-07-07: Italy probe reveals billions spent on faulty Chinese masks and alleged corruption Italy spent €1.25 bn on Chinese Covid masks, many unfit; investigations link ex‑banker Daniele Guidi to €72 m kickbacks and reveal that Riccardo Fraccaro hid warnings about the masks. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-probe-reveals-billions-spent-on-faulty-chinese-masks-and-alleged-corruption ### 2026-07-06: Giuseppe Conte denounces unconstitutional witness hearings in Italy's Covid inquiry Giuseppe Conte says the Covid inquiry commission’s secret witness hearings, organised by Fratelli d’Italia’s Marco Lisei, breach constitutional and criminal‑procedure rules, and he demands a hearing date. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giuseppe-conte-demands-a-set-date-for-covid-commission-testimony-refuses-to-resign-beforehand ### 2026-07-05: Giuseppe Conte defends COVID mask procurement amid €100 million controversy Former PM Giuseppe Conte seeks a Covid commission hearing, denies misconduct in a €100 million mask procurement case and accuses rivals of political attacks. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giuseppe-conte-defends-covid-mask-procurement-amid-100-million-controversy ### 2026-07-02: Fratelli d’Italia leader Bignami accuses Giuseppe Conte of Covid‑19 mismanagement and files Court of Auditors complaint Fratelli d’Italia’s Galeazzo Bignami accuses Giuseppe Conte of Covid‑19 mismanagement, cites a €250 million penalty, files a Court of Auditors complaint, and resigns to be interrogated; the parliamentary probe‑ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fratelli-ditalia-leader-bignami-accuses-giuseppe-conte-of-covid19-mismanagement-and-files-court-of-a ### 2026-07-01: Giuseppe Conte Resigns from Italy's Covid Inquiry Commission Amid Mask Procurement Probe Giuseppe Conte quits Italy's Covid inquiry commission, seeks an audit on the €1.25 bn Chinese mask deal deemed substandard, and demands the commission chair resign amid political pressure. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giuseppe-conte-resigns-from-italys-covid-inquiry-commission-amid-mask-procurement-probe ### 2026-06-30: Galeazzo Bignami quits Italy's Covid inquiry commission to demand audit, urges Conte to follow Italian MP Galeazzo Bignami resigned from the Covid inquiry commission to be audited, urging former PM Giuseppe Conte to do the same; Conte says he’ll cooperate if reinstated after the hearing. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/galeazzo-bignami-quits-italys-covid-inquiry-commission-to-demand-audit-urges-conte-to-follow ### 2026-06-30: Giuseppe Conte under scrutiny for mask procurement and alleged US investigation links Giuseppe Conte faces parliamentary inquiries into Covid mask contracts and renewed speculation about his 2019 US‑Russiagate connections. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giuseppe-conte-under-scrutiny-for-mask-procurement-and-alleged-us-investigation-links ### 2026-06-29: Giuseppe Conte Seeks Covid Inquiry Hearing, Offers to Resign From Committee Giuseppe Conte asked Senate and Chamber presidents to set a Covid‑19 inquiry hearing, offering to resign from the commission until heard, and criticized the commission chair’s lack of response and attacks from 19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giuseppe-conte-requests-hearing-in-italys-covid-inquiry-offers-to-resign ### 2026-06-28: Giuseppe Conte discusses Covid mask procurement on Quarta Repubblica Giuseppe Conte was interviewed on Quarta Repubblica about the Covid mask‑procurement probe, conflict‑of‑interest claims, and the show also covered the Epstein and Garlasco cases. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giuseppe-conte-faces-covid-mask-probe-on-quarta-repubblica ### 2026-06-26: Giuseppe Conte denies Covid procurement accusations amid parliamentary clash Giuseppe Conte denies involvement in Covid mask contracts, accuses the government of defamation, while opposition pushes for a commission hearing and a probe into possible political interference. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giuseppe-conte-urged-by-fratelli-ditalia-to-testify-before-covid-inquiry ### 2026-06-09: Giuseppe Conte targeted by Covid procurement probe and political intercept allegations Giuseppe Conte faces a Covid procurement scandal over a €454k payment and a separate claim of an intercepted plan to boost his Five Star Movement rise, which he denies. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giuseppe-conte-targeted-by-covid-procurement-probe-and-political-intercept-allegations --- Cite as: Italian Covid procurement probe: Conte confronts Meloni. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italian-covid-procurement-investigation