"In Italy, there is tension and anger," said the Mayor of Lampedusa after the landing of migrants with open arms

The boat Open arms He entered the port of Lampedusa on Tuesday night, greeted by some 60 residents and holidaymakers with welcome cries and the song "Bella ciao". At midnight, the migrants began to descend in small groups, some smiling, others tense or sad. There are only 80 people left, after many medical evacuations and the rescue of about 15 people who had jumped into the water that same day.

This event marked the end of a day of madness in Italy, with the announcement of the resignation of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and his virulent attack on his now-former Interior Minister of the United States. extreme right, Matteo Salvini. It was the Agrigento prosecutor, Luigi Patronaggio, who ended the nightmare of Open Arms after personally badessing the health situation on the ground. As for the ship and its crewThey left for Sicily, accompanied by a military ship and stopped there for not knowing how long.

As well an inquiry is opened for the abduction of people, the omission and rejection of official acts. The Italian authorities have denied access from the island to Open Arms on the island, although six European countries – France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania and Spain – pledged to welcome the migrants they transported. The refusal was carried by the outgoing Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, who actually claimed that Facebook was the target of this investigation.

"Salvini did a series of tests. In each new case, he tested the resistance of survivors, first responders, NGOs, but also the reaction of the public and their supporters. He used the suffering of these people to increase his electoral scores. That's why it's an important day: the Agrigento prosecutor said that there were limits to cruelty and that we could not continue like that. And I hope that despite the law on security, the investigation will take its course and determine the responsibilities. In addition, the government has fallen, so I do not think anyone can save Matteo Salvini from a possible trial, "he said. RFI Giusi Nicolini, former mayor of Lampedusa present for the landing.

"Today, in Italy, there is a climate of tension, anger and even confrontation that it no longer allows a debate to take place in democratic conditions "deplores the current mayor of Lampedusa, Salvatore Martello. According to him, there is virtually no talk of immigration, controversy aimed at stifling any valid discussion on the subject.

"As it is a problem that concerns the whole world, not just Italy, it would be wise to sit at the negotiating table and to find a way to make common decisions, in accordance with the rules The European Union has a great responsibility, of course, but also the countries directly affected, "said the mayor of Lampedusa.

A few hours before the decision of the Prosecutor Patronaggio, Madrid had announced the shipment of a military ship to Lampedusa to bring migrants to Spain, country of the Catalan NGO Proactiva Open Arms. But the NGO is at the heart of Spanish political life, in open conflict with Madrid. Apparently, it does not respect national legislation and illegally rescues migrants at sea. It is for this reason that the organization refused to land in a Spanish port, where it was exposed to a fine and to pressures.

In addition, says the mayor, it is not true that the ports are closed: "We must clarify something.When a ship arrives from an NGO, everyone is talking about immigration, landing but no one realizes that being blocked, at the same time, others arrive directly at the port of Lampedusa, sometimes with more migrants on board than in NGO ships ".

However, he points out: "In the collective imagination in Italy, people are convinced that no one is coming, that immigration is over and that the only problem is that NGOs helping people at sea. people that the problem of immigration is not resolved, that the ports are open and that some media wars are directed exclusively against NGOs. "