“A judgment that demonstrates how unfounded and surreal the accusations made against him were.” As Giorgia Meloniwhile applause rose from the majority benches in the Chamber, he commented on the acquittal sentence for Matteo Salvini in case Open Arms. Words which were echoed by many other members of the executive, from the deputy prime minister Antonio Tajani who rejoiced on X by posting “there is a judge in Palermo! A hug to Matteo Salvini”, to the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosiwho said he was “infinitely happy for Matteo Salvini. But above all, as a citizen and as a minister, I underline the importance of this sentence which reaffirms a very important principle: the political line of a government cannot be put on trial. This was what we were talking about in Palermo. And the truth is that the strategy against irregular immigration implemented by the then Interior Minister Matteo Salvini coherently represented the political line of the Conte 1 Government, collegially pursued by the executive with the support of the parliamentary majority. The magistrates have evidently reaffirmed this principle which is fundamental to ensuring a correct relationship between the powers of the State”.
The Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgettihe said he was “happy for him, I'm happy for the Italian state. He had the courage to reiterate a principle that seems elementary but which everyone now has to respect in some way.” The Minister of Justice speaks of “courageous magistrates”, Carlo Nordio: “Honor to these courageous magistrates. This process shouldn't even have started, as I wrote years ago as a columnist. However, the political decision to authorize this process was serious, in contrast with the constitutional law that protects the ministerial office. Trials like this, based on nothing, slow down the administration of justice and waste resources. After the agony of the state-mafia trial and this acquittal, I believe a reflection on our imperfect system is necessary.” And also the European friend and ally, Viktor Orbanwrote on X that “justice has prevailed! Well done Matteo Salvini! Another win for the Patriots.”
Luca Casarinihead of mission of Mediterranea Saving Humanscommented on the news by stating that “the acquittal of a powerful person is not surprising news. That the suffering caused to innocent people by a powerful person is not considered a crime, either. Everything seems normal to me, nothing too strange.” The oppositions all react in a similar way, saying they respect the sentence but placing the emphasis on the moral and political condemnation of Salvini's choices. “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 – he declared Elly Schlein – Judgments are always respected, unlike what the right does, and our harsh opposition to their choices will continue.” So too does the co-spokesman of the Greens, Angelo Bonelliaccording to which this ruling “demonstrates that judges act in their autonomy. The right will not be able to say that they are 'red ticks', a statement unfortunately used many times. Our political judgment remains unchanged: Salvini did not defend Italy's borders, he kept 147 shipwrecked people, including women and children, in the middle of the sea for weeks for mere electoral calculations.” He says the same Fratoianni: “We are used to, unlike the right, respecting sentences. Having said this, the political judgment does not change one iota, on the choices of then and the choices of today”.
Matteo Renzi judges “Matteo Salvini's acquittal to be good news and we can only be happy about it. It is confirmation that the way is to defend oneself in the trial and not from the trial. However, the condemnation of an exquisitely political nature for his migratory management remains.” AND Giuseppe Conte recalls that “judges are an autonomous power, it 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. 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.”
