Mateo Salvini has been acquitted in a court in Palermo, Sicily. He was accused of “refusing to perform his duties” and depriving illegal immigrants of their “personal freedom” by preventing an NGO boat from landing rescued people.

This trial lasted three years and concerned the decision of Matteo Salvini, in August 2019 when he was interior minister, not to allow for 19 days the docking of the ship of the NGO Open Arms on which 147 migrants were on board.

“I was acquitted because I stopped mass immigration and defended my country. The League wins, common sense wins, Italy wins,” Salvini said.

“I am happy: after three years the League won, Italy won, defending the homeland is not a crime but a right. I will go forward even more determined than ever,” he added.

The Palermo prosecutor’s office had asked for Mateo Salvini to be sentenced to six years in prison.