MILAN — Ahead of a crucial court ruling in Sicily regarding his role in blocking approximately 100 migrants aboard a humanitarian rescue vessel in 2019, Italy’s Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini remains resolute. Salvini, who heads the anti-migrant League party that is skeptical of the European Union, expressed at a recent rally his belief that upholding a nation’s borders and dignity can never be deemed a crime.
On Friday, he plans to attend the Palermo court session to hear the verdict on charges of illegally detaining those seeking refuge aboard the Open Arms ship, during his tenure as interior minister. This incident took place in August 2019, when the migrants were stranded for five days off the coast of Lampedusa. In addition to the unlawful detention charge, he faces allegations of neglecting his official duties. Prosecutors are calling for a six-year imprisonment, with any sentence exceeding five years automatically disqualifying him from holding office. Regardless of the outcome, Salvini has made it clear he does not intend to resign.
The Open Arms vessel arrived near Italy with 150 individuals who had been rescued at sea, some from the Maltese search and rescue zone. Despite Lampedusa being the nearest port, the ship spent ten days in international waters before drifting for an additional five days near Lampedusa, during which conditions worsened and tensions escalated among the migrants. Some individuals even attempted to jump overboard, leading to the evacuation of minors amid the standoff. Ultimately, a court mandated the disembarkation of the remaining 89 migrants at Lampedusa.
Salvini’s assertion that he was safeguarding Italy’s borders has been refuted by Arturo Salerni, the lawyer representing Open Arms, who stated that it is the duty of public officials to uphold the human rights of all individuals. “The primary responsibility of government officials is to uphold international laws and protect people’s rights,” Salerni emphasized. “No interior minister has the authority to deny anyone their freedom.”
The Open Arms incident was one in a series of over 20 confrontations that occurred during Salvini’s stringent approach towards migration as interior minister from 2018 to 2019, under the administration of former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. During this time, he effectively barred humanitarian ships from Italian ports and accused rescue organizations of facilitating human smuggling.
A related episode involved German captain Carola Rackete, who in June 2019 defied Salvini’s orders by docking the Sea-Watch 3 at Lampedusa after declaring an emergency with 40 rescued migrants on board for 16 days. She faced arrest, but ultimately, Italy dismissed charges against her related to aiding illegal migration.
Currently serving as transport minister in Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government, Salvini enjoys the backing of the prime minister and other officials during the Palermo trial. He has also garnered support from anti-immigration legislators across Europe, who recently rallied in Brussels wearing T-shirts depicting his image with a slogan stating “Guilty for having defended Italy.”
Since taking office in late 2022, Meloni has intensified measures to curb migration, establishing agreements with North African countries to deter crossings and creating inactive centers in Albania aimed at processing rescued migrants without entering Italian territory. “Salvini receives support from the entire government,” Meloni remarked during an address in the Italian Senate, receiving enthusiastic applause from right-wing parliamentarians.
Additionally, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has expressed support for Salvini’s stance against migration, critiquing a judicial ruling that impeded Italy’s efforts to assess migrants in Albania. In a post on X, Musk remarked that it is “outrageous that Salvini is facing trial for protecting Italy.”