Open Arms: Matteo Salvini acquitted, "The fact does not exist"
The ruling closes the case on migration management in 2019, sparking political and legal debate in Italy.
Open Arms: Matteo Salvini acquitted, "The fact does not exist".
The Court of Palermo acquitted the leader of the League, Matteo Salvini, of the charges of kidnapping and refusal to perform official duties related to the affair of the ship of the Spanish NGO Open Arms. The ruling established that “the fact does not exist“, ending a process that began in 2021 and had attracted great media and political attention.
The judicial affair
The facts date back to August 2019, when Salvini, then Interior Minister, prevented the landing in Lampedusa of 147 migrants rescued by the ship of the Catalan NGO Open Arms. The prosecution argued that the action was illegitimate and constituted a crime of kidnapping, emphasizing the migrants' right to be welcomed as provided for by international law.
The Palermo Public Prosecutor's Office, represented by the deputy prosecutor Marzia Sabella and the PMs Gery Ferrara and Giorgia Righi, had requested a six-year prison sentence. Several associations and personalities had joined the civil action in the trial, including Legambiente, Arci, Mediterranea Saving Humans and the commander of the Open Arms ship, Marc Reig Creus. The requests also included a total compensation of one million euros.
The defense and the sentence
Salvini's lawyer, Giulia Bongiorno, set out her defense by emphasizing how the former minister's actions were justified by her institutional role and the need to combat illegal immigration. “The fact does not exist” was the formula with which the court rejected the charges, fully accepting the defense line.
“I am proud of what I have done. I defended my country and I would do it all again,” Salvini said immediately after the verdict, greeted by applause and demonstrations of support. Francesca Verdini, the partner of the Lega leader, was present in the courtroom and did not hide her emotion.

Political reactions
The news of the acquittal has sparked mixed reactions in the political landscape.
Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, tweeted: “There is a judge in Palermo! A hug to Matteo Salvini.” Giuseppe Valditara, Minister of Education, defined the day “a great day for Italy".
Applause and chants of “Matteo, Matteo” resounded among the centre-right benches in the Chamber of Deputies, temporarily interrupting parliamentary work. However, criticism has been raised by the opposition, underlining the lack of respect for human rights during the management of migrants.
Statement by the President of the Council, Giorgia Meloni: “Great satisfaction for the acquittal of Vice President and Minister Matteo Salvini in the Open Arms trial. A judgment that shows how unfounded and surreal the accusations against him were”.
Cecchetti (Lega): “Salvini’s acquittal, a day of celebration for him and for the country”. "Today is a day of great celebration, first of all for Matteo Salvini, a man who has always acted with commitment and dedication in his role. His acquittal is a personal victory and positive news for the entire country. After years of attacks and unfounded accusations, the value of his actions, conducted with courage and responsibility, is finally being recognized. From today on, let it be clear that those who enter illegally and do not respect our borders must be removed." "Thank you, Matteo, for your example and for your commitment to serving the country!” declares the Hon. Fabrizio Cecchetti, Lega MP – Secretary of the Chamber of Deputies' Office of the Presidency.
Zaia: “Salvini acquitted, justice is done”. "Justice has been done. I have always believed in the good reasons that guided the then Interior Minister Salvini in his decisions. I welcome this sentence with satisfaction", says the President of the Veneto Region Luca Zaia.
“Salvini – continues Zaia – acted in the legitimate interest of our country and in full compliance with its institutional responsibilities. It should be remembered that, in the Open Arms case, all migrants with precarious physical conditions were promptly disembarked, while the others were offered the possibility of leaving the ship by signing a form that, however, was never made to be signed by the NGO. Furthermore, the competence for designating the Place of Safety (Pos) belonged to Spain or Malta, not to Italy, as clarified by the defense. Despite this, the Open Arms ignored the instructions received from these States, deliberately choosing to head towards Italy.
It should also be emphasized – adds Zaia – that in subsequent contexts and with the governments that followed the Open Arms affair, waiting times for disembarkation actually doubled, demonstrating how complex the management of these operations was”.
“This sentence confirms that Minister Salvini acted with rigor and a sense of responsibility in a delicate situation, highlighting the groundlessness of the accusations against him,” President Zaia concludes.
The Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli: “I express full satisfaction for the acquittal of Vice President and Minister Matteo Salvini in the Open Arms trial. The satisfaction of those who see Minister Salvini recognized, for the second time, the groundlessness of the accusations made”.
Zangrillo 'the accusations against Salvini are unfounded, no more trials inspired by ideology'. "The fact does not exist: the acquittal of Minister Matteo Salvini shows how unfounded and surreal the accusations against him were. No more trials inspired by ideology! Forward together Matteo!". The Minister for Public Administration and Forza Italia senator Paolo Zangrillo wrote this on his social media profiles.
Statements from the actors involved
“The migrants rescued by Open Arms did not have the right to disembark because they were sick, but because they were free men,” prosecutor Marzia Sabella reiterated during the trial. The defense, however, accused the Prosecutor of focusing on secondary details, ignoring the general context and the international agreements in force at the time.
Future implications
The Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, said that the ruling will have no impact on the current government. “It will not affect in any way our policies or the stability of the executive," he has declared.
This case represents a crucial moment in defining political and legal responsibilities in managing migration flows. While on the one hand the ruling offers an important political victory for Salvini, on the other it rekindles the debate on migrants' rights and Italian migration policies.
The Open Arms case has highlighted the complexity of the migration issue and the delicate balance between legality, politics and humanity. With Salvini's acquittal, a judicial chapter that has divided public opinion and ignited political debate is closed.
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