Italy’s deputy prime minister appears in court over migrant boat incident

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The open arms trial in which Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini faces charges of kidnapping and refusal to perform his duties resumed on Friday in Palermo.

In August 2019, as interior minister, Salvini blocked the disembarkation of 147 migrants from a boat run by Spanish NGO Open Arms on the island of Lampedusa.

Salvini: “I’m proud of what I did”

In a post published on social media showing Salvini entering the Ucciardone bunker courtroom, Salvini returned to his claim that he had defended his country’s security and its borders.

“I am ready to speak in a bunker courtroom, risking 15 years in prison for protecting the country’s security and borders as Minister of the Interior. I’m proud,” Salvini said.

Oscar camp: “Salvini takes responsibility for his actions”

Open Arms founder Oscar Camps is critical.

“Is it reasonable for a minister in a democratic republic to force 160 vulnerable people, including women and children, to wait 19 days at the nearest port of disembarkation for the treatment they need? I don’t think so. See you tomorrow in court!” he wrote to X yesterday, Thursday, January 11th.

This morning, he made comments to reporters who were present in front of the court. “I look forward to justice being done and for him to answer for the consequences of his actions,” Camps said.

Mr. Salvini must answer charges of kidnapping and refusing to perform an official act for which he was responsible.

He told reporters on Friday morning that during his time as interior minister, “the number of disembarkations has fallen by 90%” and that the government’s aim was to “combat human trafficking”.

But political opponents say Lega is adopting anti-immigration stances simply to increase votes.