Italian senators start debate on whether Salvini should go to trial

An Italian Senate committee was starting a debate onWednesday on the lifting of parliamentary immunity for InteriorMinister Matteo Salvini, who has been charged with "kidnapping"migrants on a rescue boat.

The charge stems from Salvini's decision in August to delay fornearly a week, despite critical conditions on board, the disembarkingof more than 150 migrants who were rescued and taken to a Sicily portby the Diciotti, an Italian coastguard vessel.

A special court has ruled that Salvini should face a trial over hisconduct, risking a jail term of 3 to 15 years, but it will not happenunless the Senate - first at committee level, then in an assemblyvote - authorizes it.

The Senate committee has 30 days to examine the case, beforerecommending a vote to the full house. The outcome of the procedureis uncertain.Salvini, who leads the far-right League, initially said he did notwant immunity and was ready to defend his actions in court, butchanged tack on Tuesday. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and othermembers of the government are standing by him.However, Salvini's government coalition ally, the Five Star Movement,is split.

As an anti-establishment party, it is usually opposed topoliticians' privileges like parliamentary immunity, but a voteagainst Salvini could destabilize the government.In August, the migrants were eventually let off after the ItalianCatholic Church, Albania and Ireland agreed to share the burden oftaking them in. However, the transfers to Albania have neverhappened.