In August 2019, Italy’s interior minister, Matteo Salvini, invoked his "closed ports" policy to block the disembarkation of 147 migrants rescued by the Spanish NGO vessel Open Arms. What followed was a years‑long trial. Below are the main phases of the case pitting the League leader against the Open Arms crew.
A weeks-long standoff in August 2019 pitted then–interior minister Matteo Salvini against the Spanish NGO vessel Open Arms. It was followed by a trial lasting over three years.
At the heart of the case was Salvini’s refusal to allow 147 migrants -- rescued by the NGO-run ship -- to disembark on the Italian island of Lampedusa, invoking his "closed ports" policy. What followed was a lengthy legal battle. Here are the key phases of the case between League leader Matteo Salvini and the Open Arms crew.
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The events of 2019
- AUGUST 1, 2019
Some 124 migrants are rescued in Libyan SAR waters. They include 32 minors, of whom 28 are travelling alone.
After the rescue operation, the vessel's crew members ask Italy and Malta to be assigned a safe port but receive in response a refusal to enter Italian national waters ordered by the then interior minister, in agreement with the ministers of defence and transport of the 5-Star Movement (M5S) during then-premier Giuseppe Conte's first government, which lasted from June 2018 until August 2019, and was backed by the 5-Star Movement and Salvini's League party.
A clash between the opposing sides begins.
- AUGUST 9, 2019
The NGO's attorneys appeal to a juvenile court, asking for the disembarkation of the minors and filing a complaint.
A few hours later, the vessel rescues another group of people, 39, whose boat was in distress.
Meanwhile, 16 migrants are evacuated during multiple operations for health reasons.
- AUGUST 12, 2019
The tribunal of Palermo orders the disembarkation of minors. The NGO appeals to the regional administrative court (TAR) of Lazio after the interior ministry's repeated refusal to allow the disembarkation.
The president of the panel of judges suspends the entry ban.
- AUGUST 14, 2019
While the first Conte government is starting to crack, the Open Arms appeals to the State Attorney's Office of Agrigento, which has jurisdiction over the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, because Salvini is continuing to refuse to allow the boat into Italian waters despite the administrative court's decision.
Meanwhile, the situation on board has become unmanageable: the migrants, who are in dire hygienic conditions after 19 days on the Spanish boat, located some 800 metres off the coast of Lampedusa's Cala Francese, are exhausted.
Some of them, after seeing the Italian coast, jump into the sea to try to swim to the coast.
- AUGUST 20, 2019
Then-chief prosecutor of Agrigento, Luigi Patronaggio, visits the boat to see first-hand how passengers are doing physically and psychologically: he describes the situation as "explosive", impounds the boat and allows the disembarkation of migrants, ordering an investigation on the case. The migrants are allowed to disembark on Lampedusa.
- NOVEMBER 19, 2019
Salvini is placed under investigation on potential charges of kidnapping and refusal to perform public acts, together with his chef de cabinet, Matteo Piantedosi, the current interior minister.
Investigative papers are transmitted to the State Attorney's Office in Palermo, which has jurisdiction over the case because the Tribunal of Ministers, which is responsible for judging cabinet members, is based where a region's court of appeals is located.
The State Attorney's Office files the charges against Salvini and shelves the case against Piantedosi.
From 2020 until today
- FEBRUARY 1, 2020
The panel of judges sends court papers to the Senate to obtain the authorization for a trial. The Senate, contrary to a similar case regarding the interior ministry's refusal to disembark migrants from the coast guard's Diciotti vessel, grants the authorization this time.
- APRIL 17, 2021
Preliminary hearings judge Lorenzo Jannelli orders Salvini's indictment.
- SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
The trial starts. Witnesses include former premier Giuseppe Conte, ex-foreign minister Luigi Di Maio and the current interior minister Matteo Piantedosi
- SEPTEMBER 14, 2024
State attorneys request a six-year jail term for Salvini over his "intentional and conscious disrespect for roles and conscious and voluntary denial of the personal freedom of 147 people". "I only defended the nation", Salvini has always said, defending his closed-ports policy to curb irregular arrivals.
- DECEMBER 20, 2024
The court of first instance of Palermo acquits Salvini of the charges of kidnapping and refusal to perform public acts.
- JULY 18, 2025
The State Attorney's Office in Palermo files a 'per saltum' petition, which makes it possible to appeal directly to the supreme Cassation Court without going through the appeals-court phase, appealing against the acquittal.