Matteo Salvini was acquitted because the fact does not exist. And precisely for this reason, the leader of the League sculpts by promptly answering Bruno Vespa's questions, «now we must also think about the justice of tomorrowI have broad shoulders, even in the event of a conviction I would have continued anyway. But if I think that 1000 Italians are unjustly arrested every year but don't have the money for a lawyer and lose their jobs, loved ones and lives. We need to rethink the times and ways of justice.”
A big sigh of relief
Shortly after 7.30pm the verdict of the Palermo judges makes the courtroom explode with happiness. A sentence that marks a before and after in the career of the vice-president of the Council and leader of the Northern League. It certainly strengthens his leadership which could have been weakened by a guilty verdict. The charges of kidnapping and refusal of official documents at the trial for the affair of the Spanish ship Open Arms are dropped. The leader of the League embraces whoever comes his way, looks around, he searches for his girlfriend Francesca Verdini with his eyes. She, Denis' daughter, is in tears, she reaches him and they indulge in a long embrace. The lawyer Giulia Bongiorno is moved. “You were all good,” says the deputy prime minister. And again: «The League wins, Italy wins. Those who thought they would use migrants to engage in politics lost and are returning to Spain with their hands in their pockets.” The Minister of Infrastructure breathes a sigh of relief.
The joy of the Carroccio
Having fought until the end was rewarding. “Common sense won, today is a wonderful day.” A day of celebration in via Bellerio. The group leaders of the Chamber and Senate, Riccardo Molinari and Massimiliano Romeo, issued a note: «Matteo, Matteo. The chorus that rose in the courtroom as soon as the news of the acquittal was heard gives an idea of how happy the entire League is at this moment. Defending the borders of our country is not a crimebut a right-duty. And Matteo Salvini in the exercise of his functions as minister did what the Italians asked of him. Justice is done.”
Here it is Senator Bongiornoin the role of defender of the deputy prime minister, who declared to reporters: «It is a sentence of acquittal because the fact does not exist, with the first paragraph of article 530. The judges have chosen the full formula. There is no contradictory proof but there is full proof that no crime exists». Salvini's phone is boiling. They all write to him: the governors of the North, from Zaia to Fontana and Fedriga, the patriot Orban, Giorgia Meloni. «Great satisfaction for the acquittal of the vice president and minister Matteo Salvini in the Open Arms trial. A judgment that demonstrates how unfounded and surreal the accusations made against him were” is the reflection of the tenant of Palazzo Chigi. Accusations that date back to the times of the Conte 1 government when the League was in government with the 5 Stars. It is no coincidence that the leader of the M5s wastes no time in issuing a note: «I Judges are an autonomous powerit is good for all centre-right forces to keep this in mind when they think they are right and when they have a contrary opinion.
Schlein: “We stay on our line”
We take note of this sentence, it must be respected and can be commented upon when it is filed. I said what I said as a witness.” Elly Schlein also intervenes: «Our criticism of the choices of Meloni and Salvini today as yesterday is entirely political and does not change a millimeter because it is on politics that we will beat them. Judgments are always respected, unlike what the right does, and our harsh opposition to their choices will continue». A very long day, that of Salvini. Which starts in the morning in Palermo alongside his girlfriend. They say that the night before the trial it was not easy for the deputy prime minister to sleep. «One sleepless night, Matteo didn't sleep a wink – confides a close parliamentarian – but at the same time he was always convinced that he would be acquitted.” Salvini walks through the streets of the center of Palermo, sits down in a well-known restaurant in Via Principe di Belmonte. Also at the table were the undersecretary Claudio Durigon and the deputy Nino Germanà. The vice-president of the Council risks up to six years in prison. “I would do it all again, I defended the borders from illegal immigrants” he tells reporters.
The accusations failed
The prosecutors Marzia Sabella, Geri Ferrara and Giorgia Righi accused him of kidnapping and refusal of official documents: “In August 2019 – they said in the indictment – as Minister of the Interior he had the obligation to immediately release the place of safety to the NGO ship Open Arms for 147 migrants rescued in the Strait of Sicily. Instead, by leaving them on board he acted intentionally and knowingly in defiance of the rules.” The defense of the leader of the League is entrusted to Giulia Bongiorno, senator of the Northern League and super lawyer: «Open Arms loitered in the middle of the sea – she accused in the hearing – while the migrants could get off freely and Salvini defended the borders». Both as the leader of the League for the whole day he says he is «proud of what I have done, I have kept promises made, I have opposed mass immigration. Whatever the sentence, today is a good day for me because I am proud to have defended my country.”
Defend yourself in the trial, not from the trial
The council chamber meets for hours and dissolves the reservation just before the 8pm news. Innocent or guilty? Salvini was ready for any scenario. It was no coincidence that he had activated the machine for a mega demonstration in his defense in the next few hours. It won't help. An acquittal arrives because the fact does not exist. An acquittal that follows that of Matteo Renzi. The leader of Italia viva comments on Salvini's verdict: «It's better this way, it's right and it should have ended like this. Our position has always been that we need to defend ourselves in the trial, not from the trial.” Is it all over? For Salvini yes. Consequences for the government? The political framework should remain unchanged. Or at least it seems that way. The conditional is a must when handling politics. “The owls – the Salvinians whisper – can go back to rest.” The reference is to who would like to oust Salvini from the secretariat of the League. The Northerners, for example, are against him but in the hours following the acquittal they fully praise the Captain's result. “Justice has been done” is the formula used by the governor of Veneto, Luca Zaia. And, guest of Bruno Vespa on Cinque Minuti, the leader of the League takes matters further: «The principle was established that defending the borders was not a crime but absolutely my duty». Secretariat saved, government position as well, and at this point no shock, perhaps, in the executive.
