Open Arms, Meloni defends Salvini: “He did his job”. Musk: “Crazy judge.” Schlein: “Inappropriate Prime Minister”

Giorgia Meloni he fiercely defends his deputy prime minister, Matteo Salviniafter the request for a six-year prison sentence by the Palermo prosecutor’s office in the Open Arms trial. A quick intervention that the secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schleinconsiders it “very inappropriate”. The prime minister’s words are clear in rallying around the leader of the League, as is the entire government majority. «It is incredible that a minister of the Italian Republic risks 6 years in prison for having carried out his job defending the nation’s borders, as required by the mandate received from the citizens», writes Meloni on social media. According to the prime minister, «transforming the duty to protect the Italian borders from illegal immigration into a crime is a very serious precedent. My total solidarity with Minister Salvini.”

Open Arms, the Palermo prosecutor’s office asks for 6 years in prison for Salvini: “The blockade of migrants at sea was kidnapping”. Meloni: “My solidarity with him”

by Salvo Palazzolo

14 September 2024

Statements which for Schlein are in contrast with the constitutional principle of the separation of powers. The dem leader, from the stage of the Umbria Regional Unity Festival in Umbertide, attacks: «I found Prime Minister Meloni’s intervention very inappropriate because we think that the executive and judicial power are separate and autonomous. A principle called separation of powers. And therefore institutional respect would dictate not commenting on trials that are open.” Schlein then doesn’t miss the opportunity to tease Meloni about his silence regarding the plea deal of the former president of Liguria, Giovanni Toti. «It is surprising that while he found the time to comment on Salvini’s trial, he has not yet said a word about Toti’s plea deal. I remember that the plea bargain starts from a premise, that is, admitting responsibility, admitting guilt”, he adds.

Melons but not only. The center-right rallies around Salvini. The other deputy prime minister, Antonio Tajanirecognizes his government colleague for «having done his duty as a minister. I am convinced that there is always a judge who recognizes the correctness of the behavior of a minister, whose task is also to defend legality, and I believe that Salvini has done so.”

He also takes sides in defense of the League leader Matteo Piantedosinow Minister of the Interior and at the time of the events Salvini’s head of cabinet. “The risk of a six-year prison sentence, for having done his duty to the end in combating irregular immigration – he explains – is a clear and macroscopic distortion and an injustice for him and for our country”.

Support for Salvini also from overseas through a tweet by Elon Musk in which he calls the prosecutor crazy who asked for the minister to be sentenced. “It should be that crazy judge who goes to prison for six years. Is there a lawsuit against Open Arms and its financiers?”, writes the Tesla owner and supporter on the platform he owns Donald Trump.

The silence from the 5 Star Movement is striking Giuseppe ContePrime Minister at the time the crime was allegedly committed. While the former five-star member, and at the time defense minister, Elisabetta Trenta he states: «I must say that six years seems too long to me, an excessive sentence for a minister who has carried out an activity within the scope of his role, even if I believe that he has gone beyond his mandate».

The collapse of the opposition. Angelo Bonelli of Avs invites Salvini not to play the victim. «What happened with Open Arms, regardless of what the court’s decision will be, represented a shameful page for our country. No electoral calculations are made on the drama and desperation of shipwrecked people trying to save themselves.”