The Italian Senate voted on Wednesday in favor of lifting the parliamentary immunity of party leader far-right Matteo Salvini, in preparation for his trial on charges of abuse of power during his accession to the Interior Ministry.
The Senate’s decision came after a lawsuit was brought against Salvini on charges of abusing power and detaining migrants on a ship for several days. The session was boycotted by Senate League members.
In his first comment on the decision, Salvini said that he was not concerned about lifting his immunity.
"I was expecting that. I am very satisfied and proud of what I did, and I will do it again once I return to the government."
"I swore an oath on the constitution, which expects every Italian to protect the country. I also defended Italy," he said.
"I will not go to the courtroom to defend myself, but to be proud of what I have done," he said in his speech, stressing that defending the country's borders when he was interior minister was "a duty."
"My children have the right to know that the reason for their father's absence from the home was not to arrest people, but to defend the country's borders and security," he added. "The opponents must be defeated in the ballot box, not in the courts."
It is noteworthy that Salvini did not allow a ship belonging to the Italian Coast Guard to enter the ports of the country last July, with 141 immigrants on board.
Later, Salvini allowed the ship to enter the port of "Augusta" in Sicily, but he refused to land the migrants for six days, and he was only allowed to allow people who need medical attention to leave.
A court in Catania (Sicily) accused Salvini of "abusing power and detaining individuals", and if the charges were proven he would face 15 years in prison.