00:00After three years and 24 hearings, a verdict in the open arms trial will be finally reached
00:06on Friday in Palermo. But this is no ordinary verdict. Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo
00:11Salvini could face a sentence of up to six years in prison. The former interior minister
00:16has been charged with kidnapping for preventing 147 migrants from disembarking on the island
00:22of Lampedusa in 2019. The league leader has already made clear he will not step down if
00:28found guilty. He believes that defending murders is not a crime. Should I end up being
00:33convicted this would be a major defeat for Italy and Europe, these were his words. The
00:38Patriots for Europe group has already defended Salvini's actions while members of the league
00:44party say they're ready to take to the streets if their leader will be convicted.
00:58The
01:20Spanish NGO Open Arms Vessel, which had rescued the migrants, waited 19 days before being
01:26allowed to disembark those on board. They say that as a result their operations suffered
01:33a major setback. Here is what they told us about the trial. Let's take a listen.
01:56In the case of a conviction, Salvini has the right to appeal but it could take years
02:03before a final verdict is reached. But it's clear that whatever the judges decide this
02:08Friday will have a significant political impact, not just in Italy but also in the EU. Giorgia
02:15Orlandi for Euronews in Rome.
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