Milan, 19 July (LaPresse) – ‘The move by the Palermo prosecutor's office against the acquittal of Matteo Salvini’ in the Open Arms case ‘has generated a wave of solidarity towards the minister both in Italy (starting with Giorgia Meloni and Antonio Tajani) and abroad’. This was reported in a statement by the League. The European allies of the Patriots have sent messages of support to the League's deputy prime minister. The leader of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, wrote: "Persecution has no limits. The appeal filed by the Palermo Public Prosecutor's Office against the acquittal of Matteo Salvini, who was scandalously tried for preventing illegal immigrants from disembarking in Italy when he was Minister of the Interior, demonstrates a tenacity that is now clear to everyone. I fully support Salvini, whose courage in the face of this injustice I know well." And Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, commented: "The absurdity of the left on full display: Italian prosecutors are appealing against Matteo Salvini's acquittal in the “Open Arms” case for doing what every responsible leader should do: defend their country's borders. This is not justice, it is political revenge. We stand with Matteo!‘ In response to the Fidesz leader, Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom, wrote: ’The same goes for me: the decision to appeal the acquittal of our friend and ally Matteo Salvini is a disgrace and a politically motivated move by left-wing prosecutors. Defending your country's borders is not a crime, but a virtue." Santiago Abascal of Vox emphasised: "They will not forgive honest and courageous people for showing Italians that national borders can and must be protected. Institutions die when they cease to serve the people and succumb to ideological diseases. Courage, Matteo. We are with you.‘

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