League leader Matteo Salvini said
Monday that he was ready to go to prison to defend his position
ahead of a vote by the Senate's parliamentary immunity panel
regarding a potential criminal case involving him and migrants
he allegedly 'kidnapped'.
"(Giovannino) Guareschi said that there are times when you
have to pass through prison to reach freedom," Salvini said at a
rally in Comacchio when asked about the case.
"We are ready. I am ready".
The panel is set to rule on whether to grant prosecutors
permission to proceed against Salvini over his conduct when he
was interior minister regarding the Gregoretti Coast Guard ship.
The Catania court of ministers has requested parliament give
it the OK to proceed against Salvini for allegedly abusing his
power by failing to give the ok for more than 100 rescued
migrants to disembark from the ship for several days during a
long standoff in July.
Salvini, who operated a closed ports policy while interior
minister in the last government, faced prosecution before but
his parliamentary immunity was never lifted so he could go to
trial in previous similar cases.
ANSA sources said the parties supporting the government were
likely not to take part in Monday's vote on the panel.
The ruling majority accused Senate Speaker Elisabetta
Casellati of not being impartial last week after she voted with
the opposition regarding a procedural question.
She rejected the charge, saying her actions were dictated by
the need to keep work in the Upper House moving.
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