Interior Minister Matteo Salvini
said Thursday he claimed responsibility for "blackmailing" the
EU over the Diciotti coast guard ship carrying 177 Eritrean
migrants.
"I learn there is a new crime, blackmailing the European
Union, I didn't know it existed," Salvini told a press
conference on the probe into the Diciotti where he is accused of
illegal arrest and abuse of office, among other things.
"They are changing the penal code for the interior minister.
Good, I claim responsibility for blackmailing the European
Union".
Informed that he had been charged with two further alleged
crimes, Salvini said "these two new charges are medals"
The EU refused to take in the migrants, who were eventually
taken in by Italian bishops, Ireland and Albania.
Salvini added that Italy was "assessing" whether to continue
the EU's Sophia mission which currently lands all rescued
migrants in Italian ports.
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