Chat Delmastro, the FDI dossier to deny the PMs: "There could be personal and political conversations"

Italian lawmakers from the right-wing majority have rejected efforts to review confidential chats between former Interior Ministry official Andrea Delmastro and restaurant owner Mauro Caroccia, opting instead to proceed directly to a vote in the Chamber of Deputies. The move comes after prosecutors in Rome submitted new evidence, including chat records, which they argue are essential to their ongoing investigation into alleged mafia ties linked to Delmastro. Despite this, the center-right coalition, which supports Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, has refused to allow the material to be examined further before a formal vote. The issue arose during a meeting of the Authorization Committee, responsible for determining whether parliamentary proceedings should be opened on specific matters. The committee voted against initiating a new investigative phase based on the newly submitted materials, deciding instead to bring the matter directly to the floor of the Chamber. According to the committee rapporteur, the request from prosecutors was deemed too vague and lacked specific boundaries. This stance contrasts with that of Devis Dori, president of the Authorization Committee, who argued that there were sufficient grounds to refer the case to the Constitutional Court. He criticized the process as paradoxical, noting that the committee had cast its vote without having accessed the actual documents. The rejection of the additional evidence follows earlier attempts by opposition parties to ensure that the chat records could be used in the inquiry. Prosecutors had previously sent a notice to lawmakers emphasizing the importance of the communications for the investigation. However, these efforts failed to sway the right-wing majority, whose members remain united in their refusal to consider the material prior to a formal vote. The decision has drawn criticism from opposition figures, who accuse the government of shielding Delmastro and protecting party interests at the expense of transparency. Forza Italia welcomed the outcome, with Enrico Costa stating that the evidence submitted by prosecutors had been late and was therefore inadmissible. Opposition lawmakers, however, expressed outrage over the handling of the case. Democratic Party member Federico Gianassi accused the right of being afraid of the truth and urged them to address the matter openly. M5S representative Daniela Torto described the situation as nauseating, accusing the majority of using institutional mechanisms to aid organized crime and defend a political ally. She emphasized that while some may attempt to hide information, those who fear the truth will not conceal it. The dispute over the use of the chat records has led to repeated back-and-forth discussions within the parliamentary committees. Initially, the Authorization Committee had ruled against reviewing the chats and postponed the decision to the Chamber. However, following the submission of new evidence by prosecutors, the President of the Chamber and group leaders decided to revisit the matter in the committee. At the same time, Dori authorized the consultation of the chat records, prompting a swift response from the center-right bloc, which blocked any further action through direct communication with the President of the Senate. In the end, the Authorization Committee returned to the original position of proceeding to a vote in the Chamber. Dori noted that the lack of a clear vote on whether to examine the chats would prevent the creation of a dangerous precedent regarding the use of documents submitted to the committee. He emphasized that such a precedent could lead to future decisions being made by majority votes rather than thorough examination of the evidence. The controversy highlights growing tensions between the government and the judiciary, particularly concerning the handling of sensitive cases involving high-profile officials. Prosecutors had initially raised concerns in early July, warning that a negative response from lawmakers could hinder their ability to pursue justice effectively. As the debate continues, the outcome of the upcoming vote in the Chamber will determine whether the chat records can be formally considered as part of the legal proceedings.