When Matteo Salvini was still Minister of the Interior, he tried to isolate Italy from migrants. Now the Senate is reportedly giving the go-ahead for a possible trial over this policy. The right Lega boss uses the stage for a forward defense.
Rome (AP) - According to media reports, the Rome Senate has lifted the immunity of the former Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini as a member of the Chamber of Parliament.
A trial against the head of the right-wing Lega is possible because of his tough anti-refugee policy during his reign. In a vote, a majority of the chamber voted for the repeal, media reported the same. The official result was not expected until the evening (7 p.m.).
After the vote, Salvini says: "I defended Italy, I will go to court for that (...) But I have full confidence in the court." The opposition leader added that he would not be convicted. He defended the borders in the interests of the Italians.
The process is said to involve Salvini as minister persevering 131 migrants on a Coast Guard ship. The "Gregoretti" was not allowed to call a port for days in summer 2019. Only after other countries, including Germany, had agreed to accept the people, were the migrants allowed to go ashore.
The public prosecutor in Catania accuses the 46-year-old of freedom. Matteo Salvini is Senator in the smaller of the two Houses of Parliament. He was Minister of the Interior from June 2018 to early September 2019. In a trial, the Lega boss could face a long prison sentence.
In March 2019, the Senate voted against the first attempt by the judiciary to have Salvini's immunity lifted because of refugee policy. At that time it was about the ship "Diciotti" blocked in 2018. At that time, Salvini was the strong man of a Lega and five-star government. That majority helped him then. In September 2019, a new coalition of the five-star party with the Social Democrats (PD) replaced the old government.
After the vote on Wednesday, the Senate still has to decide on the case of a third blocked lifeboat, the "Open Arms". When possible processes could start was still unclear.
