Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right Northern League party, appears on Saturday, October 3, as a former Minister of the Interior before a Sicilian court, for having prevented the disembarkation of migrants rescued at sea.

He is being prosecuted for "abuse of power and sequestration of people" for having blocked during the summer of 2019, for several days, 116 migrants aboard an Italian coast guard vessel, the Gregoretti.

Migrants had been evacuated for medical reasons, but 116 others remained on the ship for almost a week, for lack of authorization to disembark from Matteo Salvini, then Minister of the Interior of a government formed by the League (his far right party) and the anti-system of the 5 Star Movement (M5S).

The Italian senators having lifted his parliamentary immunity, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

However, Saturday's hearing is lip service and the outcome of the legal process remains uncertain.

Matteo Salvini says he is "absolutely serene"

Arrived in Sicily two days before the debates, he declared himself "absolutely serene" and said to have prepared "a beautiful costume" for the audience.

"I would prefer that the judges devote themselves to capturing the Mafiosi and the delinquents", he launched in front of his supporters on the island, which saw the prosperity of the Cosa Nostra criminal organization, and where arrive each year by sea thousands of migrants from North Africa.

"It is the Italians, in the next elections, who will say whether Salvini has acted well or badly", he added.

In the Italian judicial system, the trial begins only after a preliminary hearing before a magistrate in which the prosecution and the defense present their arguments before a judge.

The latter then decides on the referral to justice, or not, of the respondent.

The prosecution can ask to dismiss the case, but the judge can ignore this and force the prosecution to formulate a charge.

After two or three hearings, the judge is expected to make his decision, according to media reports.

Saturday's hearing in Sicily will only be devoted to the constitution of civil parties.

Presence of allies from other right-wing parties

Matteo Salvini has summoned his troops to Catania for three days of demonstrations during which he wants to demonstrate having popular support.

Many national and local elected officials of the League, as well as allies of other right-wing parties, have announced their presence.

"For Fratelli d'Italia (FDI, far right), suing Matteo Salvini because he tried to defend national borders and our laws (...) is a wrong and shameful thing", said Francesco Lollobrigida, chief of FDI deputies.

Matteo Salvini's defense strategy is to involve Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, ensuring that the blocking of the ship was a collective government decision.

A version of the facts disputed by the head of government, recalling that Matteo Salvini had at the time approved a new decree-law strengthening his powers.

Matteo Salvini also risks facing a similar trial in the short term, in Palermo, for having blocked for several days, in mid-August 2019, the humanitarian boat Open Arms in front of the island of Lampedusa.

With AFP

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