Salvini faces trial as defense presents case, Lega supporters rally in Palermo
The appointment is set for this morning at 10 in front of the Teatro Politeama, in the heart of Palermo. Ministers, deputies, senators, regional parliamentarians, and supporters of the League will gather in Piazza Castelnuovo to show solidarity with Minister Matteo Salvini, who is currently on trial for kidnapping and abuse of office. Meanwhile, in the bunker courtroom of Pagliarelli prison, lawyer Giulia Bongiorno, president of the Justice Commission, will begin her closing arguments in the presence of the defendant, who will respond to the accusations made by the Palermo Prosecutor’s Office, which has requested a six-year prison sentence for Salvini.
The prosecutors, led by the deputy prosecutor, and prosecutors Geri Ferrara (now at the European Prosecutor’s Office) and Giorgia Righi, are convinced of the charges. According to them, by refusing to allow 147 migrants to disembark from the Spanish NGO Open Arms’ ship in the summer of 2019, Salvini, who was Interior Minister at the time, committed a “kidnapping”. The accusation claims that Salvini acted “in violation of international conventions and domestic regulations on sea rescue and the protection of human rights,” and that he “abused the powers granted to him as a national public security authority.”
During the seven-hour closing arguments, Deputy Prosecutor Marzia Sabella stressed that “human rights come before border defense.” Salvini’s defense rejected the charges during his response on September 14, emphasizing that the decisions to delay the disembarkation after redistribution were not solely made by his client. “Other ministers have also publicly claimed responsibility for pushbacks,” the lawyer said, explaining that “Salvini is not on trial for his conduct, but rather for a political stance.”
Open Arms, processo a Salvini: in aula la requisitoria della difesa, la Lega in piazza a Palermo
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