It was a man protesting Italy’s corona restrictions who carried out the attack. The man punched Conte in the face and was then immediately arrested by the police.
Conte does not appear to have been seriously injured.
– Dissent is justified, but this violent demonstration falls outside the democratic context, says Conte in a statement.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed solidarity with Conte, whose Five Star Movement party is in opposition, and condemned “all forms of violence”.
Conte was prime minister when Italy became the first country in Europe to confirm cases of covid-19 in February 2020, leading to a strict lockdown in March.