Opposition groups say they'll snub COVID commission

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 2 - Several opposition political parties said yes on Saturday to an appeal by Democratic Party (PD) Senator and former culture minister Dario Franceschini for them to boycott a commission of inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
    The current ruling coalition, which voted for the creation of the commission, features parties that were highly critical of the restrictive measures adopted to combat the pandemic by the second government ex-premier Giuseppe Conte, which was backed by the PD and the 5-Star Movement (M5S).
    Franceschini told the PES congress in Rome on Saturday that it was necessary to "desert the commission" in order to avoid "a dangerous precedent, a political tribunal".
    The centrist Azione party signed up to the boycott at once.
    "We will not let ourselves be dragged into the political tribunal of one government on previous governments," said Azione MP and former equal opportunities minister Elena Bonetti.
    "It's a risky game in contempt of a democracy that we should cherish, but, instead, they want to use as a truncheon against political adversaries".
    Riccardo Magi of the More Europe group agreed.
    "The COVID Commission that the Government and the whole center-right want started badly and it will end worse," Magi said.
    "It will not act on the basis of science, or intellectual honesty or political truth.
    "It will instead be a witch hunt in which the no-vax theses that the League and Brothers of Italy (FdI) irresponsibly rose on during the pandemic will be rehabilitated.
    "A political tribunal will not clear up any errors. It is not a way to honour the victims.
    "It is our duty not to participate in this farce".
    Photo: Ex-premier and M5S leader Giuseppe Conte. (ANSA).