Rome, 24 July (LaPresse) – “I understand that Mr Carroccia’s lawyer is in the process of submitting the much-discussed ‘chats’. I have no objection to this, not least because they will help clarify the whole matter. These friendly exchanges are, and remain, typical of the sort of conversation one might have with a Roman restaurateur, and I confirm that I have never even suspected him of any real or alleged involvement with criminal circles. I had submitted a written statement to the Authorisations Committee, without taking a position, regarding the possible handover – not because I do not believe in the constitutional guarantees safeguarding the confidentiality and freedom of elected representatives’ conversations and correspondence, but because I was personally involved. Parliamentary privileges as enshrined in the Constitution are now safeguarded, and the submission of the chat records, through other channels, will finally and beyond any shadow of a doubt demonstrate the complete lack of any connection – not only on my part, but also on the part of the restaurant business – to any criminal activity.” This is the statement issued by Andrea Delmastro delle Vedove, a Member of Parliament for Fratelli d’Italia. “For months, despite not being under investigation, I have had to endure a smear campaign by politicians whose local councils were dissolved due to mafia infiltration. I hope that we can now have a serious discussion about councils infiltrated by the mafia, rather than about someone who, despite not even being under investigation, has resigned out of respect for the institutions,” concludes the former Under-Secretary of State for Justice.
The Delmastro case: “Submission of chat logs will fully clarify my lack of involvement”
Rome, 24 July (LaPresse) – “I understand that Mr Carroccia’s lawyer is in the process of submitting the much-discussed ‘chats’. I have no objection to this, not least because they will help clarify the whole matter. These friendly exchanges are, and remain, typical of the sort of conversation one might have with a Roman restaurateur, and I confirm that I have never even suspected him of any real or alleged involvement with criminal circles. I had submitted a written statement to the Authorisations Committee, without taking a position, regarding the possible handover – not because I do not believe in the constitutional guarantees safeguarding the confidentiality and freedom of elected representatives’ conversations and correspondence, but because I was personally involved. Parliamentary privileges as enshrined in the Constitution are now safeguarded, and the submission of the chat records, through other channels, will finally and beyond any shadow of a doubt demonstrate the complete lack of any connection – not only on my part, but also on the part of the restaurant business – to any criminal activity.” This is the statement issued by Andrea Delmastro delle Vedove, a Member of Parliament for Fratelli d’Italia. “For months, despite not being under investigation, I have had to endure a smear campaign by politicians whose local councils were dissolved due to mafia infiltration. I hope that we can now have a serious discussion about councils infiltrated by the mafia, rather than about someone who, despite not even being under investigation, has resigned out of respect for the institutions,” concludes the former Under-Secretary of State for Justice.
