Trial: Italy’s deputy prime minister Salvini faces prison

The verdict will be handed down this Friday in the trial against Italy’s right-wing Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini over his handling of migrants on the Mediterranean. The public prosecutor’s office is demanding six years in prison. She accuses the current Minister of Transport of having prevented an aid organization’s ship from entering the port of the island of Lampedusa for weeks in 2019, when he was Interior Minister. The defense is demanding acquittal.

The leader of the right-wing ruling party Lega is one of the central figures in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition. The 51-year-old has made it clear that he wants to remain in office even if he is convicted. He accuses the judiciary of persecuting him for political reasons. The public prosecutor, however, accuses him of deprivation of liberty and abuse of office. Now, after more than three years of litigation, a court in Palermo, Sicily, is making its decision.

Known internationally for its tough actions against migrants

Salvini was Interior Minister in 2018/19. At that time, he also made a name for himself internationally through his actions against aid organizations that took refugees on board from boats in the Mediterranean. At times his party got more than 30 percent in elections. However, the Lega is now well behind its larger coalition partner, Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy). In surveys it comes to around 10 percent.

The trial concerned the ship “Open Arms” belonging to the Spanish aid organization of the same name, which took in more than 160 migrants in the Mediterranean in August 2019. It then lay in front of Lampedusa, but was not allowed to enter the port. Several times people jumped into the water and tried to swim to land. The public prosecutor finally had the “Open Arms” confiscated after three weeks so that the ship could dock.

Accusations against “communist judges”

Salvini has already announced that he will appeal against a prison sentence. He spoke of “communist judges” who practiced left-wing politics. “I just did my job. I defended the borders,” said the right-wing populist. “If they condemn me, it will be an act of war against all decent people who do their duty.” Italy’s judges’ and lawyers’ associations reject such allegations.

In Italy too, it would be extremely unusual for a minister sentenced to prison to remain in office. Prime Minister Meloni has repeatedly assured her coalition partner of her solidarity. In parliament this week she said: “Salvini can count on the support of the entire government.” The Lega has already announced protests in the event of a conviction.

Significantly fewer new arrivals than last year

Italy is one of the countries particularly affected by migration across the Mediterranean. Last year more than 150,000 new arrivals were registered there. This year there were significantly fewer – around 64,000 so far. According to the helpers, of the refugees who were finally allowed to disembark in Lampedusa with the “Open Arms” in the summer of 2019, only one lives in Italy today.

The Meloni government is taking a tough line against irregular migration. However, the plan to allow decisions on asylum applications to be made in reception centers in Albania in the future has not yet made any progress. After two defeats in court, the warehouses are now empty.