The Five Star Movement (M5S) voted to protect its coalition partner from prosecution after an online poll on the movement’s digital platform found 59 per cent of M5S supporters were in favour of blocking the trial.
Salvini sought parliamentary immunity, claiming he was “only doing his job” in refusing to allow 190 people, including children, to disembark from the Diciotti coast guard ship, which was left stranded in Italian waters for five days.
Salvini only allowed the migrants to disembark in Sicily after other European countries agreed to take them in.
The immunity panel’s vote is not the final say in the case, and the vote will now go to the upper house.
But with most M5S Senators having pledged to follow the lead of their supporters’ vote, it appears Salvini will be safe.
Political commentators said the vote put the coalition government at risk of collapsing.
A “Yes” vote in parliament allowing a possible trial against Salvini would have likely caused tension within the government.
Formed in June 2018, the populist government has faced internal conflict in recent weeks, with the League and M5S clashing over key policies and electoral pledges.
