The trial in Palermo

Open Arms, Salvini acquitted: the fact does not exist. The minister: 'Justice reform now even more urgent'

The League leader was acquitted of charges of kidnapping and refusing to carry out official acts in the trial for the failure to disembark the Spanish NGO ship Open Arms

by Redaction Rome

20 December 2024Articolo aggiornato il 21 dicembre 2024, ore 15:30

Matteo Salvini dopo la lettura della sentenza (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

5' min read

Key points

The Milan court acquittal
Salvini hugs girlfriend in tears, Bongiorno moved
"I am happy, defending the homeland is not a crime"
Meloni: accusations against Salvini unfounded, acquittal proves it
House applause from majority benches for Salvini
Tajani: there's a judge in Palermo
Orban: justice prevailed, victory for the Patriots
Nordio: brave magistrates, now reflection on the system
Giorgetti: just heard Salvini, he had courage
Count to majority: judges are always autonomous
Schlein: sentences are respected, the right does not
Zaia: Salvini acquitted, justice is done
Piantedosi: infinitely happy for Salvini
Camps: sorry for people deprived of their liberty

5' min read

"I was not afraid. It is a fair sentence that I expected. I must say that yesterday in court in Palermo I saw, a correct, fair and healthy separation of those who judge from those who investigate. But this is not always the case. So now the separation of careers and the civil responsibility of magistrates for those who err with malice is fundamental'. This is what Matteo Salvini said, pointing out that the Open Arms trial "cost millions of euros. Justice reform is even more urgent since yesterday. Surely yesterday's sentence will no longer put any minister in difficulty in his job'.

The acquittal in the trial, continued the League leader, 'is a recognition that I have done my duty and repays me for so many bitternesses'. This was said by Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini at a press point in Rome, regarding the acquittal verdict in the Open Arms case. Ironising on the question of his possible return to the Viminale, Salvini replied: 'I am fine where I am, for now.... What I did at the Ministry of the Interior was absolutely correct. If someone in the past years thought: 'you can't return to the Viminal because you're on trial, you're potentially a criminal'... this thing falls."

'That said, at the Viminale there is Piantedosi, a friend, a brother. I am not running to replace him, but definitely,' Salvini added further. Asked if he would like to return to the Viminale, the minister replied: 'The Viminale is an exceptional machine. To be responsible for the security of Italians and to coordinate the State Police is something wonderful'.

The acquittal by the Court of Palermo

The Court of Palermo acquitted, "because the fact does not exist" the leader of the League from the charges of kidnapping and refusal to perform acts of office at the trial for the affair of the Spanish NGO ship Open Arms. According to the indictment, the deputy prime minister and minister of transport, in August 2019, when he held the position of minister of the interior, allegedly unlawfully prevented the crew of the Catalan vessel from landing 147 migrants rescued at sea in Lampedusa. The reading of the device was greeted by applause from politicians and sympathisers who had come to express solidarity with Salvini. For him, the Public Prosecutor had asked for a six-year prison sentence while the civil parties had asked for a one million euro sentence as compensation for damages.

Salvini hugs girlfriend in tears, Bongiorno moved

He clenches his fists in victory, hugs whoever he can. Matteo Salvini looks around, looks for Francesca Verdini. She is in tears, joins him: and they let go in a long embrace. The lawyer Giulia Bongiorno is moved. 'You have all done well,' said Salvini

"I am happy, defending the homeland is not a crime"

'I am happy: after three years the League has won, Italy has won, Defending the Homeland is not a crime but a right. I will go ahead even more determined than before,' Salvini's first words after the sentence. And again: 'Those who thought they could use migrants to make politics have lost and are going back to Spain with their hands in their pockets'. With a footnote: 'I am sorry for the millions of euros that the lawsuit brought by the PD and Five Stars has cost the Italians'.

Meloni: accusations against Salvini unfounded,acquittal proves it

"Great satisfaction for the acquittal of Vice President and Minister Matteo Salvini in the Open Arms trial. A judgement that shows how unfounded and surreal the accusations levelled against him were," said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Applause in the Chamber from majority benches for Salvini

Applause from the centre-right benches, with 'Matteo, Matteo' choruses, in the House chamber after the news of Matteo Salvini's acquittal. The Chamber is working on the manoeuvre. 'Alright colleagues, let's move on. Let's move on, it is appropriate to say,' said Vice-President Giorgio Mulè after a very brief pause during the applause.

Tajani: there is a judge in Palermo

"There is a judge in Palermo! A hug to Matteo Salvini". This is the tweet of the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Antonio Tajani immediately after Salvini's acquittal.

Orban: justice prevailed, victory for Patriots

'Justice has prevailed! Bravo Matteo Salvini! Another victory for the Patriots." Thus on X the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban.

Nordio: brave magistrates, now reflection on the system

"Honour to these courageous magistrates. This trial should not even have started, as I wrote years ago as a columnist,' said Justice Minister Carlo Nordio. 'Serious, instead, was the political decision to authorise this trial, contrary to the constitutional law protecting ministerial office,' continued Nordio. 'Trials like this, based on nothing, slow down the administration of justice and waste resources. After the agony of the Mafia State trial and this acquittal, I believe a reflection on our imperfect system is necessary'.

Giorgetti: just heard Salvini, he had courage

"I have just heard from him. I'm happy for him, I'm happy for the Italian State. He had the courage to reiterate a principle that seems elementary but which everyone must now respect in some way'. Thus Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, intercepted by reporters in the Chamber.

Conte to majority: judges are always autonomous

"Judges are an autonomous power, it is good that all centre-right forces keep this in mind when they think they are right and when they have a contrary opinion. We take note of this ruling, it must be respected and can be commented on when it is filed. I said what I said as a witness'. This is the comment of M5s leader Giuseppe Conte

Schlein: sentences are respected, the right does not

"Our criticism of the choices of Meloni and Salvini today as yesterday is all political and does not change one iota because it is on politics that we will beat them. Judgments are always respected, unlike what the right wing does, and our tough opposition to their choices will continue'. These are the words of PD secretary Elly Schlein.

Zaia: Salvini acquitted, justice is done

'Justice is done. I have always believed in the good reasons that guided the then Interior Minister Salvini in his decisions. I welcome this ruling with satisfaction,' This was stated by Veneto Region President Luca Zaia, among the first to comment on the acquittal for Matteo Salvini in the Open Arms trial. "Salvini," Zaia continued, "acted in the legitimate interest of our country and in full respect of his institutional responsibilities.

Piantedosi: infinitely happy for Salvini

"I am infinitely happy for Matteo Salvini. But above all, as a citizen and as a minister, I underline the importance of this ruling that reaffirms a very important principle: you cannot put the political line of a government on trial. This is what was being discussed in Palermo. And the truth is that the strategy against irregular immigration implemented by then Interior Minister Matteo Salvini consistently represented the policy line of the Conte 1 government, collectively pursued by the executive with the support of the parliamentary majority. The magistrates have evidently reaffirmed this principle, which is fundamental to ensuring a correct relationship between the powers of the State,' said Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi

Camps: sorry for people deprived of their liberty

Oscar Camps, founder of the Open arms NGO, had a different tone: 'The sorrow is above all for the people, who, as we said from the first minute, have been deprived of their freedom. We are waiting for the motivations of the judges, to assess whether to appeal the sentence, as we also hope the Public Prosecutor's Office will do. With this trial, which is unique in Italian and European history, we wanted to restore dignity to the 147 people detained on board and deprived of their freedom for 20 days".