Salvini acquitted, the political reactions from Meloni to Orbán

The prime minister was among the first to comment on the sentence (“Great satisfaction”) together with the ministers of her government. But the news went around the world, with the Hungarian prime minister rejoicing (“Another victory for the Patriots of Europe”) and the owner of Tesla, part of the Trump administration, who hopes that the Northern League leader can return to the Interior Ministry. The opposition: “We respect the sentences, which the right does not do. The political condemnation remains”

Political reactions are pouring in after the acquittal of Northern League deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini in the trial in Palermo on the Open Arms case (TAPPE). For the judges, the kidnapping of the 147 migrants and the refusal of official documents “do not exist”. Among the first to comment on the sentence was Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: “Great satisfaction for the acquittal of the Vice President of the Council Matteo Salvini in the Open Arms trial. A judgment that demonstrates how unfounded and surreal the accusations made against him were”. Also worth mentioning are the international reactions, starting with Elon Muskfuture head of the Trump administration's Department of Government Expenditures. The owner of Salvini at the Viminale. Social joy also for the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán: “Justice has prevailed, well done Matteo Salvini. Another victory for the Patriots for Europe”.

The government's embrace, from Tajani to Piantedosi

The reactions of two government companions arrived quickly, the other deputy prime minister Antonio Tajani and the justice minister Carlo Nordio. “I am happy that Minister Salvini has been acquitted. Justice has been done. Come on Matteo, move forward together for the good of Italy and its citizens”, the Foreign Ministry wrote on Palermo!”. The Keeper of the Seals instead pays “honour to these courageous magistrates” and adds: “This trial should not have even started”. Then the President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa intervened: “I express satisfaction for the acquittal of Minister Salvini, who after years has finally seen the correctness of his actions recognised. Justice has brought clarity, putting an end to an affair that is too often exploited for political purposes”. Joy also from other ministers such as the head of the Reforms Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati (“The sentence marks the end of an unjust attack on those who have served the country with loyalty”), of the Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti (Happy for him, happy for the State He had the courage to reiterate a principle that seems elementary but which everyone now has to respect in some way”) and of Culture Alessandro Giuli (“Full satisfaction with the acquittal. The satisfaction of those who see recognized to Minister Salvini, for the second time, the unfoundedness of the accusations made”). The current head of the Interior Ministry Matteo Piantedosi did not miss the intervention: “I am infinitely happy for 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 Minister of the Interior coherently represented the political line of the Conte I government, collegially pursued by the executive with the support of the parliamentary majority. The magistrates have evidently reaffirmed this principle which is fundamental to ensure a correct relationship between the powers of the State”. Words of approval also from Robero Calderoli, Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomies: “I am pleased, and not at all surprised, by the acquittal : I didn't expect another outcome, simply because I didn't think it was possible in any way. Today the judges, with this acquittal sentence, have decided that defending one's borders is not a crime! I would like to say justice has been done, but I can't say it after three years of a very long trial against a minister of our Republic, who only applied our laws in force by carrying out the task received from the citizens with their vote”. For the minister of Education Giuseppe Valditara, who was in the chamber in Palermo, “it is a great day for Italy”. Daniela Santanchè, Minister of Tourism, commented: “The fact does not exist. Fortunately, most judges do not engage in politics. A hug to Matteo”. Happiness expressed by Nello Musumeci, Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies: “There is still hope for a judiciary that is not politicized anywhere”.

The reactions of the opposition, from Schlein to Conte

“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. The sentences are always respected, unlike what the right does, and our harsh opposition to their choices will continue,” said Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein commenting on the Open Arms ruling. “The judges are an autonomous power, it is good that all the centre-right forces keep this in mind when they think they are right and when they have a contrary opinion”, said Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star Movement. “We take note of this sentence, it must be respected and can be commented on when it is filed. I said what I said as a witness”, added Conte, Prime Minister at the time. “Salvini's acquittal is good news and we can only be happy about it. It is confirmation that the way forward is to defend oneself in the trial and not from the trial. However, the condemnation of an exquisitely political nature for his migration management remains”, commented Matteo Renzi, leader of Italia Viva. “Salvini always a guarantor? But if he attacked my father on the Consip case, wondering if there was a judge free to get to the bottom of it”, he added to the program Zapping on Radio1. The secretary of Più Europa Riccardo Magi said: “The sentences are respected, which the government does not usually do, but the entire failure of its and the Meloni government's policies on immigration remains, which so far have led to nothing except to a waste of public money as in the case of the centers in Albania: neither a decrease in flows, nor greater security in the cities, much less positive integration. Certainly, the political responsibility of having kept 147 people stranded at sea for 20 days remains. Meloni and Salvini will now be able to stop playing the part of the victim by screaming at the politicized judiciary when they see their sadistic, botched and contrary to law decrees and provisions dismantled.”

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