Italy's Salvini faces new trial risk for holding migrants on ship

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini addresses a news conference at the end of a meeting with key economic players to discuss the forthcoming 2020 budget, at Viminale Palace, Rome, July 15 2019. /Reuters Photo

A special tribunal has recommended that former Italian interior minister and far-right League party leader Matteo Salvini face trial for holding scores of migrants on board a coastguard ship docked in a port in Sicily in July.

In a court document, Sicilian magistrates ask parliament for authorization to continue their investigation into Salvini for alleged kidnapping, saying he abused his powers and "deprived 131 migrants of personal liberty."

In July, Salvini, then interior minister, ordered the migrants, including children, remain on board the Italian coastguard ship Gregoretti until other European countries agreed to take most of them in.

"Investigated because I defended the security, the borders and the dignity of my country, unbelievable," the anti-migrant leader said. He called the investigation "shameful."

People hold a placard reading "Welcome Refugees" as they protest against the visit of Italy's new hardline interior minister at the reception center (CPSA) in Pozzallo, Sicily, June 3,2018. /VCG Photo

During his 14 months at the interior ministry, Salvini staked his credibility on a pledge to halt migrant flows, blocking Italian ports to rescue ships and threatening the charities operating them with fines.

The investigation echoes another case earlier this year.

In February, when the League was in government with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, parliament rejected a magistrates' request to pursue a kidnapping probe into Salvini for refusing permission to disembark for some 150 migrants on a coastguard ship stranded off Sicily.

On that occasion the 5-Star, which had always criticized the practice of halting judicial proceedings against lawmakers, rescued Salvini and blocked the investigation after weeks of tension within the government.

Migrants aboard the German rescue ship "Alan Kurdi" are refused entry into Italy after a standoff with the Italian government and decide to change their course to Malta, July 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

But things have now changed. The League walked out of government in August and 5-Star have formed a new coalition with the center-left Democratic Party (PD), which strongly opposes Salvini's hard line against migrants.

The PD and other minor government parties are expected to vote to grant the authorization, and on Wednesday 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio appeared to suggest his party will do the same.

He said that in the case of the Gregoretti ship Salvini had acted on his own initiative, rather than on behalf of the whole government, and said: "I hope Salvini can prove his innocence."

The case will be examined by a 23-member upper house Senate committee. The timetable for its hearings has not yet been set.

Source(s): Reuters