Italy: at the "Open Arms" trial, Matteo Salvini disavowed by the former head of government Conte

Matteo Salvini is accused of having refused to welcome the 147 migrants from the humanitarian ship "Open Arms" when he was Minister of the Interior.

REUTERS - REMO CASILLI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

The trial of the former Italian interior minister resumed on Friday January 13 in the presence of key witnesses.

The current Minister of Infrastructure and Transport in the government of Giorgia Meloni is accused of sequestration of people and abuse of power for refusing to welcome 147 migrants rescued by the humanitarian ship

Open Arms

in August 2019.

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With our correspondent in Rome, 

Anne Le Nir

Before entering the bunker room of Ucciardone prison in Palermo, Sicily,

Matteo Salvini

tweeted: “

I risk 15 years in prison for defending Italy and its borders, saving lives

”.

Oggi sono per l'ennesima volta a Palermo, nell'Aula Bunker dell'Ucciardone famous per i maxiprocessi contro i mafiosi, per il processo OpenArms.

Rischio fino a 15 anni di carcere per aver difeso l'Italia ei suoi confini, salvando vite e faceendo rispettare la legge.


(1/2) pic.twitter.com/992HkxcySO

— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) January 13, 2023

Called to the bar, Giuseppe Conte, head of government at the material time, fired red balls at the head of the League, recalling having asked Salvini to disembark "

 at least the fragile subjects, given the situation tragedy aboard the

Open Arms" which had rescued 147 migrants.

"

Blocking this ship at sea with minors for 19 days had no legal basis

 ," he said.

“ 

We were in the midst of a political crisis and Matteo Salvini was already engaged in an electoral competition.

»

Settling scores

The leader of the anti-migrant party had refused for six days to grant safe harbor to the Spanish NGO ship which was anchored off the small Italian island of Lampedusa, south of Sicily, while conditions on board s worsened.

The migrants had only been allowed to disembark thanks to an order issued by the Sicilian justice after an inspection on board which had confirmed the seriousness of the health situation on the overcrowded ship.

For her part, Luciana Lamorgese, who succeeded Matteo Salvini in September 2019, said: "

During the period when I was Minister of the Interior, priority was always given to rescuing people

". 

As for the former Deputy Prime Minister, Luigi Di Maio, he assured that, contrary to the declarations of Salvini's lawyer, Giulia Bongiorno, "

 the assignment of a port was not subordinated to the redistribution of migrants in European

 ”.

Matteo Salvini, 48, risks being banned from holding office in Parliament and in any public body.

And therefore up to fifteen years in prison.

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  • Italy

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  • Matteo Salvini

  • International Migrations