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Matteo Salvin: Six-year jail term sought for Italian deputy PM for blocking migrant boat

www.bbc.com Matteo Salvini: Italy deputy PM on trial for halting migrant boat

Matteo Salvini faces kidnapping charges over a 2019 decision to stop a boat from docking in Italy.

Matteo Salvini: Italy deputy PM on trial for halting migrant boat

Prosecutors in Italy are seeking a six-year jail term for deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini over a decision in August 2019 to stop a migrant boat from docking.

The ship, operated by the Open Arms charity, was kept at sea for almost three weeks before being allowed to dock on the island of Lampedusa following a court order.

Salvini, who was then the interior minister, denies charges of kidnap and dereliction of duty.

On Saturday, he said he had wanted to stop Italy becoming a "refugee camp for all of Europe" and declared himself "guilty of defending Italy and Italians".

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