[1] A member of the Italian Socialist Party, he served in the Chamber of Deputies from 1979 to 1983[2] and the Senate of the Republic from 1983 to 1994.

In the 1972 Italian general election, he supported Livio Labor [it] of the Workers' Political Movement (MPL).

From 1979 to 1994, he served in the Italian Parliament, first in the Chamber of Deputies and subsequently in the Senate.

In the 1994 Italian general election, he ran in the Pact for Italy alliance but was defeated and retired from politics.

Covatta also pursued a career in journalism, becoming political director for Mondoperaio in 2009.