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Open Arms, Salvini acquitted: the fact does not exist. The minister: «Defending the homeland is not a crime»

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The Palermo court has acquitted, «because the fact does not exist», the leader of the League Matteo Salvini from the charges of kidnapping and refusal of official documents at the trial for the affair of the ship of the Spanish NGO Open Arms. According to the accusation, in August 2019, when he held the position of Minister of the Interior, the deputy prime minister and minister of transport illegitimately prevented the crew of the Catalan vessel from disembarking 147 migrants rescued at sea on Lampedusa. The reading of the device was greeted by applause from politicians and supporters who came to express solidarity with Salvini. The Prosecutor's Office had requested a six-year prison sentence for him while the civil parties had requested a sentence of one million euros as compensation for damages.

Salvini hugs his girlfriend in tears, Bongiorno is moved

He clenches his fists in victory and hugs whoever comes his way. Matteo Salvini looks around, looking for Francesca Verdini. She is in tears, she reaches him: and they indulge in a long embrace. The lawyer Giulia Bongiorno is moved. “You were all good,” said Salvini

“I'm happy, defending the homeland is not a crime”

«I'm happy: after three years the League won, Italy won, Defending the homeland is not a crime but a right. I will move forward even more determined than before” were Salvini's first words after the sentence. And again: «Whoever thought of using migrants to engage in politics lost and is returning to Spain with his hands in his pocket». With a note: «I'm sorry for the millions of euros that the trial brought by the Democratic Party and Five Star has cost Italians»

Meloni: unfounded accusations against Salvini, acquittal proves it

«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”, declared the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni

Applause in the Chamber from the majority benches for Salvini

Applause from the centre-right benches, with chants of “Matteo, Matteo”, in the Chamber after the news of Matteo Salvini's acquittal. The House is working on the maneuver. «Okay colleagues, let's move on. Let's move forward, we must say”, said vice-president Giorgio Mulè after a very short pause during the applause.

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