Site Magazine – Italy begins investigation into coronavirus over opposition protests

rome, italy
Reuters

Italy’s parliament on Wednesday approved the establishment of an official inquiry into the response to the coronavirus pandemic, but there are concerns that it will anger the then-in-government opposition party and turn it into a political witch hunt. are doing.

The House of Representatives, currently dominated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition, approved the bill by a vote of 132 to 86.

Signs warning you not to stay A home is seen in the town of Casalpusterlengo on February 22, 2020, amid the coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy.Photo: Reuters/Flavio Lo Scalzo/File photo

Italy became the first Western country to face a health emergency in 2020, and has been fiercely critical of the lockdowns and restrictions put in place by then-centre-left Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s government to stop the spread of the virus. It’s a right-wing group.

“This law is a clown show staged by cowards, a worthless act that tramples on the duties and functions of this House and the entire Parliament for mere propaganda purposes,” said opposition lawmaker Angela Raffa. Star movement led by Conte.

The panel will include members of all political parties in both houses of Congress. Obtain relevant documents and hold public hearings to conduct investigations.

Its mandate will include assessing the readiness and effectiveness of measures taken before the virus outbreak, with a view to dealing with future pandemics, according to the bill seen by Reuters.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 195,000 people have died from the new coronavirus in Italy, making it the second-highest death toll in Europe after the UK, and a public inquiry into the country’s much-criticized response to the pandemic is underway. It is carried out.

Lawmakers in Meloni’s coalition argued for parliamentary scrutiny of a range of issues, including why Italy had not updated its 2006 pandemic plan.

The choices made by Conte and Health Minister Roberto Speranza are likely to be the focus of the commission’s investigation, the results of which are expected to be announced by the end of parliament in 2027.

A lawsuit against Conte and Speranza for mishandling the start of the crisis was dropped last year in the northern city of Bergamo, the epicenter of Italy’s first outbreak.

“I have no concerns about the upcoming investigation,” Conte told the House of Commons after the vote to open the investigation.