Italy’s Supreme Court Ratifies Matteo Salvini’s Acquittal in the Open Arms Case: Victory Against Persecution by Leftist Prosecutors for Defending Border Sovereignty
Italy’s Supreme Court, known as the Court of Cassation, has confirmed this December 17, 2025 the acquittal of the vice president and leader of The League, Matteo Salvini, in the controversial case of the Open Arms ship.
This decision closes a five-year judicial process that began in 2019, when Salvini, as Minister of the Interior, prevented for 19 days the disembarkation of 147 immigrants rescued by the Spanish NGO Open Arms in the Mediterranean.
The verdict underscores that protecting borders does not constitute a crime, reaffirming the priority of Italian sovereignty over the pressures from non-governmental organizations accused of facilitating illegal immigration.
The events date back to August 2019, during the coalition government in Italy. The Open Arms, operated by the NGO Proactiva Open Arms based in Barcelona, rescued the immigrants near the Libyan coasts and requested a safe port in Italy.
Salvini, faithful to his «closed ports» policy to combat mass immigration, denied the initial docking, arguing that Spain, as the ship’s flag, should assume responsibility.
After diplomatic tensions and a judicial intervention, the immigrants finally disembarked in Lampedusa.
The Palermo Prosecutor’s Office accused Salvini of kidnapping and abuse of power, requesting six years in prison, but the Palermo Court acquitted him on December 20, 2024, determining that the Italian State had no obligation to provide a safe port and that Salvini’s actions aligned with the defense of national interests.
However, in July 2025, prosecutors from Palermo, with a clear leftist ideological bias, appealed directly to the Supreme Court, skipping the appeals instance in an unusual but legal move.
During the hearing on December 17, both the Attorney General of the Cassation and Salvini’s defense, represented by lawyer Giulia Bongiorno, urged to confirm the acquittal. Bongiorno described the appeal as «outlandish» and emphasized that the process should never have begun.
The civil parties, including representatives of the NGO, argued violations of international norms, but the Supreme Court rejected the appeal, validating that there was no intent in Salvini’s actions and that prioritizing border security is legitimate.
This ruling exonerates Salvini and strengthens the conservative stance in Europe against uncontrolled immigration. Critics of NGOs like Open Arms point to them as unwitting collaborators of human trafficking networks, exacerbating migratory crises that overburden national resources.
In Italy, under Meloni, stricter measures have been implemented, such as agreements with African countries to curb departures, reflecting a rejection of forced multiculturalism promoted by the European left.
Salvini, upon learning of the news, celebrated on social media with a strong message: a photo of his raised fist and the message «Acquitted.
Five years of process: defending borders is not a crime». Meloni, in the Senate, expressed solidarity and called for applause, interrupting her speech on the EU Council.
We had previously reported it in Gateway Hispanic, when in July 2025 we highlighted how leftist prosecutors appealed the initial acquittal, in a clear example of political persecution.
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