Deputy Premier and Transport Minister
Matteo Salvini on Friday told a trial for allegedly abducting
147 migrants rescued by Spanish NGO Open Arms in August 2019
that he was proud of his actions as interior minister to stop
migrants landing in Italy.
"I am proud to say that when I was Minister of the Interior
there was no mournful episode (death, ed.) related to migrants,
unlike what happened afterwards" and landings were reduced "by
90%", he told the court in Palermo.
He is accused of kidnapping and refusing to perform his duty for
having denied disembarkation to the 147 migrants rescued at sea
in August 2019 by the Spanish NGO ship Open Arms, one of several
such incidents.
In a post on Instagram before the hearing, Salvini reiterated:
"Head held high, proud of what I have done."
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