Italy's Salvini awaits verdict in trial over blocking migrants at sea

euronews (in English)

A verdict is expected to be reached at Italian Deputy PM Matteo Salvini's 'Open Arms trial' on Friday. Salvini has been charged with kidnapping for preventing 147 migrants from disembarking in Lampedusa in 2019.

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00:00After three years and 24 hearings, a verdict in the open arms trial will be finally reached

00:06on Friday in Palermo. But this is no ordinary verdict. Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo

00:11Salvini could face a sentence of up to six years in prison. The former interior minister

00:16has been charged with kidnapping for preventing 147 migrants from disembarking on the island

00:22of Lampedusa in 2019. The league leader has already made clear he will not step down if

00:28found guilty. He believes that defending murders is not a crime. Should I end up being

00:33convicted this would be a major defeat for Italy and Europe, these were his words. The

00:38Patriots for Europe group has already defended Salvini's actions while members of the league

00:44party say they're ready to take to the streets if their leader will be convicted.

00:58The

01:20Spanish NGO Open Arms Vessel, which had rescued the migrants, waited 19 days before being

01:26allowed to disembark those on board. They say that as a result their operations suffered

01:33a major setback. Here is what they told us about the trial. Let's take a listen.

01:56In the case of a conviction, Salvini has the right to appeal but it could take years

02:03before a final verdict is reached. But it's clear that whatever the judges decide this

02:08Friday will have a significant political impact, not just in Italy but also in the EU. Giorgia

02:15Orlandi for Euronews in Rome.

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