Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has appeared in court as he awaits a verdict in his trial concerning kidnapping and dereliction of duty related to his decision to deny a migrant rescue boat docking access in 2019. Prosecutors in Sicily are seeking a six-year prison sentence for Salvini.
As the leader of the right-wing Lega party, which is allied with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, Salvini has vowed to appeal if found guilty. He has firmly rejected the charges, suggesting that the judges’ actions are politically motivated, asserting that his only crime is protecting Italy.
Upon arriving in court on Friday, he expressed pride in defending his country. Prosecutor Geri Ferrara previously stated that human rights should take precedence over state sovereignty, emphasizing that those stranded at sea must be rescued, regardless of their status.
The NGO ship involved, Open Arms, was carrying 147 migrants from the Libyan coast when it was barred from docking in Lampedusa on Salvini’s orders during his tenure as interior minister. The ship remained at sea for nearly three weeks, during which the health of the migrants deteriorated significantly.
After evaluating the dire conditions on board, the prosecutor from Agrigento, Luigi Patronaggio, ordered the preventive seizure of the vessel. Salvini contended that he received full backing from the government of Giuseppe Conte in his intent to close Italian ports to NGO rescue operations.
Prime Minister Meloni has publicly supported Salvini, asserting her solidarity with him and the government’s position. She cautioned that criminalizing the defense of Italy’s borders against illegal immigration sets a dangerous precedent. Despite the ongoing trial, there have been no indications from Meloni that she expects Salvini to resign, and he has confirmed he will not step down.
In recent weeks, Salvini has frequently addressed the trial and anticipated verdict in public speeches and social media publications. He expressed belief that in a normal country, someone defending borders would not face conviction, claiming otherwise would be detrimental for Italy and advantageous for human traffickers.
Salvini has denounced the Italian judiciary as politicized, contending that certain magistrates adhere to left-wing ideologies. Opposition leader Elly Schlein has accused him of propagating misinformation and instigating institutional conflict.
The three female prosecutors in the case have required police protection following online harassment and threats. Salvini’s supporters within the Lega party have organized demonstrations in his favor. Recently, some European Parliament members from the Lega wore slogans proclaiming “Guilty of defending Italy” during a session.
Lega deputy secretary Andrea Crippa remarked that a conviction would represent a grave affront to the Italian populace and its elected officials, while Lombardia’s Lega president, Attilio Fontana, deemed a guilty verdict “aberrant.”
The discourse surrounding the trial has drawn commentary from international figures, with calls for the prosecutor to face consequences. If convicted, Salvini has pledged to appeal to Italy’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Cassation, a legal journey that could take months while he retains his governmental position.
