The Italian Chamber of Deputies voted by secret ballot to reject a judicial request to access chat logs involving deputy and former justice undersecretary Andrea Delmastro, according to official parliamentary results. The proposal from the majority rapporteur in the Committee for Authorizations passed with 206 votes in favor and 133 against.
Parliamentary Debate and Opposition Protests
The vote triggered immediate uproar inside the parliamentary chamber. According to reports from the floor, lawmakers from the Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra (AVS) blindfolded themselves, while the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) chanted “Fuori le chat” (“Out with the chats”). Shortly after the vote, M5S deputies walked toward the center-right benches holding up mobile phones and tablets in a direct reference to the contested messages.
Opposition leaders sharply criticized the outcome during their statements to the chamber. Democratic Party (PD) secretary Elly Schlein stated that the decision reflects the governing majority’s approach to legality, accusing them of applying double standards. “This is a vote on how parliamentary prerogatives are understood and, more deeply, on the idea of legality held by the majority governing the country,” Schlein said according to the official transcript.
M5S leader Giuseppe Conte attacked the government’s priorities during his remarks, questioning the absence of ministers from the executive benches and arguing that the parliamentary majority was acting as a shield for a political ally. “Here today we are talking about a shield,” Conte declared. “Not against the cost of living, not against the boom in layoff hours, not against soaring fuel prices? No, we are talking about a shield for party friends.”
Majority Response and Constitutional Defense
During the debate, Fratelli d’Italia (FdI) group leader Galeazzo Bignami engaged in heated exchanges with the opposition. Bignami defended Delmastro and contended that the investigation stemmed from opposition visits to Alfredo Cospito under the 41 bis prison regime. Bignami also referenced historical political figures during his speech, prompting strong objections from opposition benches that led the presiding officer, Anna Ascani, to repeatedly call the assembly to order.
Following Bignami’s remarks regarding former President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, PD deputy Stefano Graziano announced that his party would evaluate taking legal action for alleged contempt of institutions. AVS co-spokesperson Angelo Bonelli also called for Bignami’s suspension from the chamber.
Did You Know? The parliamentary vote centered on the request for authorization to access chat logs involving a deputy.
Next Steps and Judicial Status
Following the Chamber’s vote to deny access to the communication records, Rome chief prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi issued a “no comment” regarding the decision. The inquiry originated after a defense lawyer submitted a memorial to prosecutors containing chat exchanges between Delmastro and Mauro Caroccia, an individual currently serving a final conviction for fictitious asset registration who is under investigation in connection with the “Bisteccheria d’Italia” case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the outcome of the vote in the Chamber of Deputies?
The Chamber approved the majority rapporteur’s proposal to deny the prosecution’s request to access Andrea Delmastro’s chat logs by a vote of 206 in favor and 133 against, utilizing a secret ballot.
Who requested access to the chat logs?
The request came from the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office, led by chief prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi, after a defense memorial containing the messages was deposited during an investigation involving Mauro Caroccia.
How did opposition parties react to the vote?
Opposition lawmakers staged visible protests: AVS deputies covered their eyes with blindfolds, M5S members chanted and displayed their mobile phones in the chamber, and leaders like Elly Schlein and Giuseppe Conte accused the majority of shielding a political ally and compromising institutional transparency.
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