The trial against Matteo Salvini for blocking the Open Arms ship in 2019 has stirred Italy in recent days with scenes not seen in more than a decade: a direct, unwavering, and public attack on judges by the government. After the Palermo prosecutor requested six years in prison for the head of the League, accused of abuse of power and kidnapping, Giorgia Meloni’s government closed ranks in near-unanimous fashion, with all ruling parties coming to Salvini’s defense.
In the midst of turbulence within the government over several scandals that have even fueled whispers of a potential cabinet crisis, the most forceful blow has been the stance taken by the prime minister herself, who leads Brothers of Italy. Meloni proclaimed that turning protecting Italy’s borders from illegal immigration into a crime would set a gravely dangerous precedent, and she expressed full solidarity with Salvini.
Yet the tone has been particularly sharp among Meloni’s allies. Antonio Tajani, foreign minister and leader of the center-right Forza Italia, argued that six years in prison for these charges seems irrational and legally unfounded. Matteo Piantedosi, the interior minister and a former collaborator of Salvini, criticized the idea in a tweet from the ministry’s official account, saying the notion of a conviction is a distortion that is unfair to Salvini and to the country.
Against Democracy
Stunned, the National Association of Magistrates, representing about 96 percent of Italy’s judges, responded by detailing that the remarks amount to a serious attack on democracy. They warned that ungrounded insinuations about political use of justice and disproportionate reactions by public figures and the government threaten the rule of law. The statements, they asserted, undermine trust in democratic institutions and the independence that guards them.
At that point, the ANM reminded the public that it is the judiciary’s task to assess the validity of charges with independence and impartiality, guided solely by strict adherence to current laws. The principle that everyone is equal before the law remains the true essence of democracy, irrespective of political rank. The Palermo process itself is framed as a crucial moment for democracy, according to the ANM, and the political storm surrounding it is weighed against the long-standing duty of the courts to adjudicate without interference.
Ongoing Battle
All of this unfolds while the government has spent months pursuing legislative reforms, many of which have entered the debate in Parliament and have drawn sharp criticism from judges and journalists. One measure has been described as an attack on press freedom, prohibiting explanations for why a person is detained until the full dossier becomes public. This reform has already cleared the Council of Ministers and now awaits parliamentary discussion, with the government in Rome pressing for rapid progress.
A second controversial area concerns a sweeping reform of the Judicial Power, including changes to the Council Superior of the Magistracy, a reform Meloni supports and defends. The ANM views it as an attempt to politicize the body, intimidate judges, and curb their autonomy, signaling a significant shift in the balance between politics and the judiciary.
Ministers Under Scrutiny
Hostilities intensify as several investigations touch ministers. One of the most serious centers on Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè, who faces judicial scrutiny over alleged falsified balances, improper gains, and irregular transfers.
Another case concerns Andrea Delmastro, deputy minister of Justice and a member of Brothers of Italy, for leaking confidential information about the imprisoned anarchist Alfredo Cospito. Amnesty International has urged an end to the strict isolation regime under which Cospito has been held. The public discourse has also drawn attention to Leonardo La Russa, accused of sexual assault and the son of the Senate president Ignazio La Russa, a cofounder of Brothers of Italy.