Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has been found not guilty in a criminal kidnapping case stemming from his decision in August 2019 to bar a migrant vessel from docking in Italy, leaving it stranded offshore. The ruling judge stated on Friday that “the facts do not exist.”
The case dates back to Salvini’s tenure as interior minister when he prevented the Spanish-flagged NGO rescue boat Open Arms from docking in Sicily, carrying 147 asylum seekers. The migrants remained at sea for 19 days under harsh conditions until a Sicilian court intervened, allowing them to disembark. Children and vulnerable individuals were airlifted to safety during the crisis.
At the time, Salvini justified his actions by citing national security concerns amid efforts to combat irregular immigration by sea into Italy.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her “great satisfaction” with Salvini’s acquittal, calling it a judgment that illustrates the unfounded nature of the accusations against him.
The case gained international attention when American actor Richard Gere, who was in Italy for vacation, provided food and water to the stranded migrants. Although he was named as a witness, Gere did not testify due to objections from Salvini’s defense led by Giulia Bongiorno, a member of Salvini’s Lega party. Recently, Elon Musk commented on social media that it was “crazy” for Salvini to be tried for “defending Italy.”
Salvini responded to Musk’s endorsement, stating, “Defending Italy’s borders was my duty, and I am proud of what I accomplished. Regardless of the verdict, our fight for FREEDOM and SECURITY in Italy and Europe will continue.” Musk replied, “You did the right thing.”
During nearly eight hours of deliberation, prosecutor Marzia Sabella argued that Salvini had overstepped his authority as interior minister, asserting there were no national security grounds for preventing the migrants’ disembarkation.
Speaking to reporters outside the Palermo courthouse ahead of the final hearing, Salvini expressed pride in his actions, stating, “I kept the promises I made, I fought mass immigration, and today is a good day because I am proud to have defended my country.” He added, “I would do everything I did again.”
This verdict arrives as Meloni’s government is attempting to establish a plan to send migrants to Albania for processing, a scheme facing legal challenges in the judiciary. The European Court of Justice is set to review the legality of these Albanian Centers, which have cost Italian taxpayers millions of euros.
Credit: CNN
