ABSTRACT: Following the publication of documents in the U.S., a scandal has broken out concerning bribes paid by the Lockheed company for the purchase of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft on the part of the Italian Air Force. After an evaluation of the documents, that which the Radicals had advanced as a hypothesis, that is, the responsibility of the President of the Republic Giovanni Leone, has now become a conviction. In a press statement, Marco Pannella explains the reasons inducing the Radical Party to continue its campaign, denouncing the responsibilities of President Leone.

(Press statement - April 1977 from "Marco Pannella - Works and speeches - 1959-1980", Gammalibri, January 1982.

While refusing to carry out a serious investigation, even a preliminary one, the Investigatory Commission has showed its intention of defending values that are far removed from the quest for truth and justice. It is clear, at this stage, that the reason of State gathers the parties of the governmental majority in a daring and unfair pact, for reasons that can be understood but not accepted, at least not as far as this affair is concerned. Our hypothesis according to which President Leone has consistent responsibilities in the scandal is now a conviction. We will give the country the possibility of pronouncing an appeal sentence, using the weapons of democratic struggle.

With its behaviour, the Investigatory Commission has in practice caused the absurd and false generic reply of the Intelligence Services, which, if true, should call for the immediate impeachment of the officials of the SID, for having omitted to carry out elementary institutional duties, also on a bureaucratic level.

It is no chance therefore that the hearing of the Investigatory Commission concluded itself with a chorus of reproaches against the Radical members of Parliament, a reaction of legitimate defence on the part of a political association that runs the risk of seeing its illicit and foul plan unveiled. No wonder that the most violent accusation was pronounced by Honourable Clemente Manco, a recent member of the Moro (2), Rumor (3), Gui and Leone gang. It is an exemplary and eloquent fact: Clemente Manco, whose good faith we do not wish to deny without evidence, did not even realize that for years his professional and political collaborators were organizing actions of political and common crime for kidnappings and robberies, taking advantage of his office to cover this patriotic activity. Having said this, it would be unrealistic to expect the Investigatory Commission to behave differently.

Those who labeled as suicidal Senator Compopiano's attempt to carry out a preliminary verification of some depth will soon realize that during yesterday's hearing the Investigatory Commission dismissed no other but itself. In the official documents he sent to the Lockheed Company, Ovidio D'Ovidio Lefebvre referred to Leone as "the Relative" and the "Big Boss": the Investigatory Commission can verify this itself, and verify the documents that were not notified or forwarded to it, abstracted by the Presidency and by the supervisors of the Commission because they were "manifestly irrelevant and not pertinent". Ovidio D'Ovidio Lefebvre wrote that political and economic plans of great importance were being developed together with the President before informing the government. The fact that the Investigatory Commission judged every request to inquire on facts of this kind as manifestly groundless proves that its justice is a biased justice, defending the Palace or the Court.

Translator's notes

(1) Alleged code name of President Giovanni Leone in Lockheed's files of bribe money recipients.

(2) Aldo Moro (1916-1978): Italian politician. Secretary of the Christian Democrat Party (1959-65), several times minister, Head of Government ('63-'68), author of the Centre-Left policy. Was an advocate of the Communist Party's participation in Government. Kidnapped by the Red Brigades on 6.3.1978, he was found dead on 9.5. of the same year.

(3) Mariano Rumor (1915): Secretary of the Christian Democrat Party (1964-69), Head of Government (68-69; 69-70; 70; 73-74; 74).