" If I were to be convicted, nothing would change for me . I will continue to do my job calmly, but the next day the people smugglers and traffickers would be celebrating , because we would be the only country in the world , while all of Europe closes and controls its borders, where a minister who controlled, reduced and opposed the landings, is convicted."

Thus said the leader of the League Matteo Salvini, on the sidelines of the conference of Anci Lombardia "Strategies, challenges and prospects for the protection and sustainable management of water in Lombardy" and with reference to the six years of imprisonment requested for him by the prosecutor of Palermo for kidnapping and refusal to perform official duties for having prevented, five years ago, when he was Minister of the Interior, the landing in Lampedusa of 147 migrants rescued at sea by the ship "Open Arms".

"It seems like we're on a joke," Salvini continued. "I would do it again and if I return to the Viminale I will do the same."

" If I am acquitted, as would seem obvious to me in a civilized country ," he continued, " I will celebrate, because I believe that protecting my country and defending the borders and opposing landings is a duty and not a crime ."

(Unioneonline/vl)