The floor of the Senate on Thursday
voted to authorise putting League leader and Senator Matteo
Salvini on trial in relation to the Open Arms case.
Salvini is accused of allegedly 'kidnapping' migrants on the
Open Arms rescue ship when he was interior minister last year.
The authorization to proceed with the case was approved with 149
votes in favour and 141 against.
"The cowards, the human traffickers and those who preferred a
top position to having dignity are celebrating," said Salvini.
"I am proud of having defended Italy.
"I would do it again and I will do it again because the migrant
landings this July are six times what they were a year ago when
the League was in government.
"I'll keep going with my head held high and with a clean
conscience.
"I can look my children in the eye because I did my duty with
determination and good sense".
The case is one of several stemming from Salvini's former closed
ports policy against NGO-run migrant rescue ships during his
14-month stint as interior minister.
The Open Arms spent almost three weeks at sea last year after
Salvini refused to give the OK for it to dock when he was a
minister in Premier Giuseppe Conte's first government.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
