The Catania court of ministers
has said League leader Matteo Salvini abused his power in a
standoff regarding a rescued migrants on a Coast Guard ship when
he was interior minister in July, according to documents
published in Italian dailies on Wednesday.
The documents said the then-minister illegitimately deprived
over 100 migrants on board the Gregoretti coast guard ship of
their liberty by failing to give the ok for them to disembark
for several days.
The case was one of several standoffs Salvini was engaged in
as he sought to apply his policy of closing Italy's ports to
migrants-rescue vessels.
Salvini accused left-wing magistrates of being behind the
move, with the Catania court of ministers set to request
parliament give its OK to proceed against him.
"I think it's shameful that a minister should face a trial
for having pursued the interests of his country," he said.
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