The recent acquittal of Matteo Salvini in the Open Arms case has sparked heated debate in Italy. After three years of legal and political uncertainty, the deputy prime minister and leader of the Lega party has finally obtained recognition of the legitimacy of his actions during his term as Interior Minister.

The leader of Italy's right-wing Lega Party and Giorgia Meloni's ally, Matteo Salvini, had been accused of kidnapping and dereliction of duty over his refusal to let a migrant rescue boat dock in Italy in 2019.