Prosecutors are appealing the acquittal of Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, regarding his actions in blocking NGO boats from offloading migrants in 2019.
Salvini and his supporters contend that the legal system is unfairly targeting efforts to secure Italy’s borders. Prosecutors in Palermo announced their intention to take the matter to the Supreme Court following a December ruling that cleared the leader of the Populist League.
The case revolves around an incident in which a Spanish NGO, Open Arms, was stopped from docking in Lampedusa, Italy, leading to 147 undocumented migrants being stranded over a three-week period in 2019. Authorities claimed that Salvini’s actions effectively invited more illegal entries, seeking a six-year prison sentence against him.
The initial charges were dismissed by a Sicilian judge, who found that the evidence did not support a criminal condemnation of Salvini.
State attorneys argue that decisions regarding the disembarkation of Spanish vessels should rely on international law, suggesting that national security isn’t compromised by letting migrants in.
Prosecutors submitted their appeal on Friday. The legal mechanism used allows for a quicker route to the Supreme Court without the typical appeals process.
Responding to the appeal announcement, Salvini noted, “I’ve endured over 30 hearings, and the court found me innocent. Protecting borders isn’t a crime; some people just refuse to accept this.”
Allies of Salvini, including former Romanian presidential hopeful George Simion, criticized the prosecutors, characterizing their actions as part of a “judicial war” aimed at populist leaders, echoing similar concerns in Romania.
Italian Minister Giorgia Meloni remarked on the surreal nature of the ongoing legal battle, emphasizing the futility of pursuing a three-year trial against someone who sought to uphold the law. She questioned the rationality of expending such effort on this case while many ordinary citizens await justice.
Italy continues to grapple with lawsuits involving attempts to directly send illegal migrants to Albanian detention facilities rather than allowing them to remain in Italy during their asylum processes. In Salvini’s situation, judicial opinions suggest that the central government’s stance should be regarded as safe for returnees, which includes these undocumented migrants.
