A heated exchange erupted within Italy’s parliamentary Covid Commission after opposition parties demanded the resignation of chairman Lisei and even called for the dissolution of the committee.
The controversy centred on claims that procedural rules had been breached during the delegation of hearings into alleged corruption linked to mask procurement contracts during the pandemic.
However, members of the ruling party Fratelli d’Italia argued that all decisions had been previously approved in an internal bureau meeting attended by opposition leaders themselves, undermining the accusations.
They described the protest as politically motivated and accused the opposition of misrepresenting procedural facts in an attempt to discredit the commission’s work.
The opposition, however, maintained concerns over transparency and insisted that further clarification is needed regarding witness hearings and investigative procedures.
The dispute highlights growing tensions within parliament over the handling of investigations into pandemic-era procurement, an issue that continues to provoke political friction between governing and opposition blocs.
Lawmakers are expected to continue debating the matter in upcoming sessions, with both sides signalling that further hearings could be requested.
Political analysts say the dispute reflects a broader climate of polarisation in Italy’s institutions.
