Italian prosecutors on Saturday called for a six-year sentence for right-wing League leader Matteo Salvini over his 2019 decision to block over 100 migrants from landing in Italy. Accused of alleged kidnapping, Salvini could face a ban from holding government office if convicted; he was interior minister at the time. Now, as deputy premier and transport minister under Giorgia Meloni, he continues to defend his actions. "I would do it all again: defending borders from illegal immigrants is not a crime," Salvini said Saturday via social media.
The incident involved a charity-operated rescue ship that was stuck at sea for 19 days; some migrants leapt overboard in desperation. A court eventually allowed the remaining 89 to disembark in Lampedusa. Giulia Bongiorno, Salvini's lawyer, will present his defense on October 18, with a verdict expected by month's end. Premier Meloni and her ministers support Salvini, claiming it is "incredible" for a minister to risk prison for performing his duties. Since taking power in 2022, Meloni has implemented stringent migration measures to curb human smuggling across the Mediterranean. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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