In the day after his acquittal in the Open Arms case , Matteo Salvini chose the square in Rome to take more than a few satisfactions and launch barbs. At the NGOs, who "yesterday were a bit long-faced" and now "will go celebrate with Soros"; and at the opposition, starting with Conte "the forgetful".
The Palermo judges' ruling "is recognition that I did my duty and that repays me for so much bitterness ," says the deputy prime minister; recognition "that a serious policy to combat illegal immigration is not only legitimate but is a duty ." But the minister also has it for his majority. It is clear when reporters ask him about a possible return to the Viminale: "I'm fine where I am." But he immediately adds: "For now...". The leader of the League then fondly recalls his time at the helm of the ministry. "The Viminale is an exceptional machine. Having the responsibility for the safety of Italians and coordinating the State Police is something wonderful." And he proudly claims: "What I did at the Ministry of the Interior was absolutely correct. If anyone in recent years thought: 'you can't return to the Viminale because you're on trial, you're potentially a criminal'... that thing falls apart."
Of course, now there is Piantedosi. "He is a friend, a brother. I am not running to replace him." Time will tell if these are just words of circumstance.
For now , Salvini is enjoying the crowd bath in Largo di Torre Argentina where the young people of the League are giving him a banner with the maxi inscription 'The fact does not exist', shouting "thank you Matteo". There are also some parliamentarians like Simonetta Matone and the undersecretary to the Minister of Labor Claudio Durigon.
Retracing the period between the decision taken on Open Arms and the sentence, Salvini speaks of "three challenging years. I promised Italians to stop mass immigration. I did it, I didn't expect medals, but not even six years in prison and I'm happy - he emphasizes -. I'm happy for my children, for my family, for the community of the League because from today no one can say that the ideas of the League, the government policies of the League, the actions of the League are outside the law".
Then the attack on the leader of the M5S Giuseppe Conte: «I haven't heard it but, honestly, I don't care much about Conte. I wish him a Merry Christmas because I don't wish harm on anyone. But I'm not used to running away from my responsibility, unlike others. When I do something I put my face to it, I'm not used to looking for a scapegoat or guilty parties. In that court I always said 'I claim everything I've done', and if you have to blame someone, blame me».
Conte, Prime Minister in 2019, immediately responded. On the Open Arms affair, " he is the forgetful one ", that is, Matteo Salvini, he said on In Onda on La 7, stressing that he did not "accept jokes" from the Northern League minister who called him "Conte the forgetful one". The Five Star Movement leader recounted the exchange of letters between the two at the time, when as Prime Minister he dissociated himself from the initiatives of the then Interior Minister. In my immigration policy, "exposed to the European Council in June 2018 - he explained - it did not say closed ports, which is a propaganda formula by Salvini". Just as "Meloni's propaganda is saying 'let's do a naval blockade' and then in 2023 you will have a record number of arrivals".
Salvini, meanwhile, is receiving solidarity. Many have called him or sent him messages after his acquittal, «Giorgia (Meloni, ed.) was one of the first to call me. I was also pleased by the many messages from left-wing politicians, mayors, governors, parliamentarians, former ministers, because political battle is one thing, wishing harm on others is another. Honestly, I have a thousand messages that I haven't been able to answer yet, I'll get to them between tomorrow and the day after. I was very pleased by the support of Elon Musk, who I consider an enlightened person».
Support and congratulations came from France, with Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella of the Rassemblement National, from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, from the Spanish leader of Vox Santiago Abascal. Salvini also had a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, happy for the acquittal, and spoke with Mediaset CEO Pier Silvio Berlusconi.
(Online Union)
