Open Arms, Salvini: 'I'm not plea-bargaining, ahead to the Supreme Court'. Orban's applause

"I am not plea-bargaining, I am convinced I am right and I am going ahead until the Supreme Court". So said Leghist leader Matteo Salvini, guest of 'Quarta Repubblica' on Rete 4, talking about the 'Open arms' trial against him. Salvini made this clear with respect to the choice made by Giovanni Toti, former governor of Liguria. And he reiterated: 'No, I am not plea-bargaining because I believe I have defended the security of my country and I have kept a promise, as a politician I said "Vote for me and I will reduce the landings"'.

Exchange of messages on X between deputy prime minister and minister Matteo Salvini and Viktor Orbán regarding the Open Arms trial. "Europe's bravest patriot punished for stopping immigration. Those who defend Europe are constantly being penalised. What is happening? Matteo Salvini is our hero!" the Hungarian prime minister wrote in a tweet. The retort is a consonance of positions. "Thank you Viktor, see you on Friday in the beautiful city of Budapest. Trials and threats will not stop the wind of change and freedom blowing in Europe." At the federal council meeting convened on an ad hoc basis after the application for a six-year sentence in the Open Arms trial, he thanked the government and the majority parties 'for the great and affectionate solidarity. This is a political trial and an attempt by the left to attack the government and the right to defend national borders'.

The next Leghist rally in Pontida, scheduled for 6 October, 'will be a great mobilisation for the right to security of Italian citizens, for freedom of thought and speech, for respect of popular and national sovereignty'. Having announced the initiative, Salvini turns his gaze beyond national borders. 'All of Europe, including Europe with socialist governments, is guarding the borders and increasing controls and expulsions'.

"On the defence of Salvini by the government, there is no unhinged reaction, as the president of the Anm Santalucia commented today. We are very clear on the separation of powers and we respect it'. The point, according to Fratelli d'Italia's group leader in the Chamber of Deputies Tommaso Foti, is that 'a law can be interpreted by the prosecutors, but not so extensively as to distort its meaning. We defend the work of the then interior minister Salvini, who implemented a clear political line'. And 'if a crime has been committed, however, the responsibility should also fall on former Prime Minister Conte, who endorsed that choice, despite now distancing himself from it'.

"Giving up? Never. I don't give up". Matteo Salvini relaunches in the aftermath of the indictment in which the Palermo Public Prosecutor's Office asked for his 6-year sentence in the Open Arms case. He updates his biography 'Controvento' with thirteen pages entitled 'Trial of an Italian', to tell his version of what he considers a political trial. The entire centre-right is with him. In his brief instant book Salvini lists thirteen incidents of NGO ships left at sea, 'which do not appear to have triggered any prosecutions'. And he says he is 'certain that in Palermo the judges will certainly be more balanced than his colleague Apostolico', the Catania judge who ended up in the storm a year ago for not having validated the detention of some migrants in the Pozzallo detention centre. Concepts that will become a constant in the mobilisation launched by the League between now and the sentence.