An Italian senate committee voted on Monday to strip Salvini of his parliamentary immunity, opening the way for him to stand trial for allegedly illegally detaining migrants at sea last year.
The ruling came in response to a recommendation by a Sicilian court that Salvini stand trial for leaving migrants stranded on a coastguard boat last July.
The former interior minister had refused to allow 131 rescued migrants off the Gregoretti until a deal was reached with other European states to take them in.
A Catania court accused Salvini of “abuse of power” in blocking those saved on board from July 27 to July 31.
Under Italian law, ministers cannot be tried for actions taken in office unless a parliamentary committee approves.
The League senators on the committee voted in favour of stripping Salvini’s immunity, while those from the other right and centre-right opposition parties voted against.
Those belonging to the ruling Democratic Party (PD) and Five Star Movement (M5S) boycotted the sitting.
Salvini had called on League senators to vote in favour of the trial, “so we can clear this up once and for all”.
The trial will now have to be approved by the Senate, which will be called to give its opinion in a vote likely to be held in February, Italian media said.
Should Salvini go to trial, he faces up to 15 years in jail if found guilty.
