Italian politician in court for stopping ship with refugees | Abroad

Salvini was Home Secretary at the time of the incident in 2019. Now he is a member of parliament on behalf of the right-wing party Lega. The Senate passed a special motion to criminalize Salvini. As a politician he really shouldn’t be prosecuted for this.

In May, a judge ruled that Salvini cannot be prosecuted for a similar incident. The politician therefore thinks that he cannot be punished for this either.

Salvini and his lawyer have called several politicians as witnesses in the case. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and current Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese could be questioned during the trial.

The people on board the ship were finally taken to Italy after nineteen days after an intervention by the public prosecutor. Several people jumped overboard in desperation in the meantime. The prosecutor confiscated the ship of the Open Arms organization, allowing the people in Italy to land. Salvini thought that Spain should allow the ship, as it sailed under the Spanish flag.

—