League MPs to take to streets over Salvini migrant case

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 9 - The League said Wednesday that its lawmakers will take to the streets of Palermo on October 18 to show solidarity for party leader, Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini when the next hearing of the Open Arms case takes place in the Sicilian city.
    Palermo prosecutors have requested a six-year prison term for Salvini for allegedly kidnapping 147 migrants on board the Spanish NGO Open Arms ship when he stopped them from landing at Lampedusa between August 14-20, 2019.
    The measure was part of the League leader's controversial closed ports policy for NGO-run migrant rescue ships when he was interior minister five years ago.
    "The League's demonstration will reiterate that the defence of Italy is not a crime, without irresponsibly stirring up the public against the judiciary and the State, as others have done in the past," the party said in a statement. (ANSA).