Italy Court Upholds Salvini's Acquittal in Migrant Case Ending Appeals

Italy’s Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the acquittal of Matteo Salvini in a closely watched migrant kidnapping case, bringing a final end to years of legal proceedings against the right-wing leader.

Salvini, who heads the League party and serves in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s governing coalition, was originally acquitted in 2024 by a Palermo court over decisions he took in 2019 while serving as interior minister.  Prosecutors had accused him of kidnapping migrants by blocking the Spanish charity ship Open Arms from docking in Italy for nearly three weeks while it carried more than 100 rescued migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Supreme Court ruling confirmed that Salvini’s actions did not constitute a criminal offence under Italian law, closing the case with no further possibility of appeal. Prosecutors had sought a review directly from the top court, arguing the case raised legal questions of national importance.

• Italy’s Supreme Court upholds Matteo Salvini acquittal in migrant ship case
• Top court ends appeals in Open Arms migrant case against Salvini
• Ruling closes years-long legal battle over Italy’s migration policy decisions

Following the decision, Salvini welcomed the verdict, reiterating that enforcing border controls and limiting migrant landings were legitimate acts of government policy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also welcomed the ruling, saying it validated Italy’s firm approach to migration management and border security.

The case had become a focal point in Italy’s long-running debate over migration policy, humanitarian rescue operations, and the powers of elected officials. Prosecutors argued that international maritime law and human rights obligations required Italy to allow the ship to dock sooner, while Salvini’s defence maintained that the decision was a collective government policy aimed at pushing other European countries to share responsibility for migrants.

Human rights groups and the Open Arms organisation criticised the ruling, warning it could weaken accountability for decisions affecting the safety and rights of migrants at sea. Open Arms founder Oscar Camps said the judgment risked normalising policies that leave vulnerable migrants stranded for extended periods.

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Supporters of Salvini said the decision confirmed that courts should not interfere with political decisions on immigration, calling the ruling an important precedent for future immigration, border, and national security policies in Italy.