Italian Deputy PM Salvini Faces 6-Year Prison Sentence Over 2019 Migrant Blockade

Prosecutors charge Salvini with kidnapping for preventing over 100 migrants from disembarking in Italy; potential conviction could bar him from office.

Matteo Salvini, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and League leader, is on trial for his 2019 decision to block the Open Arms rescue ship from disembarking migrants.
Prosecutors in Palermo have requested a six-year prison sentence, accusing Salvini of kidnapping for leaving the migrants stranded at sea for 19 days.
Salvini, who was Italy's interior minister at the time, maintains that his actions were in defense of the nation's borders and insists he would take the same actions again.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other government ministers have expressed solidarity with Salvini, arguing that he was fulfilling his duty to protect Italy's borders.
A conviction could prevent Salvini from holding government office, with a final decision expected by the end of October following a three-stage judicial process.