Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini expressed strong criticism of Italy’s judiciary on Monday after a Catania judge overturned the detention of an Egyptian asylum seeker earmarked for deportation.
The migrant had been held at a processing facility in Pozzallo, Sicily, even though Egypt is on a government-approved list of “safe countries” for repatriation under a new decree.
Salvini, leader of the League party, declared that Italy is “not a safe country anymore” due to what he referred to as “Communist judges” failing to implement the law.
“Due to some Communist judges who don’t implement laws, the unsafe country at this point is Italy,” Salvini wrote in a social media post. “But we are not giving up!”
The ruling came despite a recent government decree, passed on Oct. 21, that aims to streamline the deportation of migrants from countries deemed safe, such as Egypt. The decree was introduced following a Rome court’s rejection of migrant detentions in Albania, where Italy has set up processing centers under an agreement with Tirana.
In her decision, the Catania judge argued that simply listing a country as safe under national law does not exempt judges from ensuring that designation aligns with European Union law. The judge cited reports of human rights violations in Egypt as a basis for her ruling. According to the migrant’s attorney, Rosa Emanuela Lo Faro, this is the first such case under the new decree.
The October decree introduced by Giorgia Meloni’s administration is part of Italy’s broader migration policy to expedite deportations by legally designating certain countries, including Egypt and Bangladesh, as safe. However, as conservatives predicted, it is now facing challenges in the courts.
Upon passing the decree just two weeks ago, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio reiterated to the press it is the government’s prerogative to define safe countries and suggested the Rome court had misunderstood a recent ruling from the European Court of Justice.
“We have reached this point following a ruling from the European Court of Justice which has not been well understood. If the list of safe countries is found in a law, no judge can disapply it,” he said at the time.
Salvini’s remarks are part of broader criticism from the Italian government over judicial decisions they argue obstruct their efforts to control immigration. Despite these setbacks, Salvini affirmed his commitment to pushing ahead with the government’s policies.
