Italian mayor claims there are 'no migrants' in Malta as countries continue to spar over Mediterranean migrant crisis
Comments come days after countries came to stalemate over which country would be responsible for 450 rescued migrants
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An Italian politician has claimed there are “no migrants” in Malta as the two countries continue their feud over the Mediterranean migrant crisis.
Susanna Ceccardi, a mayor from the far-right Lega Nord or Northern League party, accused Europe of “emptying the barrel of migration onto Italy” as she spoke in front of the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's office, the Auberge de Castille.
“Walking around this island’s streets, you won’t see a single migrant," she said. "I’ve been here one day now and people I spoke to here tell me you won’t see any migrants, simply because Europe has emptied the barrel of migration onto Italy.
“We’re now punching our fists at the tables of Europe as well as Rome’s.”
The mayor, from Cascina, claimed the League’s leader Matteo Salvini was the only party acting to stop migrants enjoying “the good life” in Italy and blamed the country’s leftist parties of fuelling the “business” of migration.
It comes just days after Italy and Malta came to a stalemate over which country would be responsible for 450 migrants rescued from the Mediterranean.
The migrants were spotted near the Italian island of Linosa and more than 100 nautical miles from Malta. But Mr Salvini refused to let them dock, instead ordering the boats to Malta.
Malta in turn refused to accept the migrants, claiming the ship was closer to Italy.
The migrants were spotted near the Italian island of Linosa and more than 100 nautical miles from Malta. But Mr Salvini refused to let them dock, instead ordering the boats to Malta.
Malta in turn refused to accept the migrants, claiming the ship was closer to Italy.
Mr Salvini, Italy’s interior minister, has promised to block further arrivals of migrant boats, who are rescued at sea by ships from anti-trafficking and border control missions.
He has also banned charity rescue ships from docking in Italian ports, claiming they aid human traffickers.
The number of people who have drowned has “skyrocketed” in recent months in the wake of Italy's tougher stance.
More than 600 individuals are thought to have been killed in the central Mediterranean in the past four weeks alone, representing half of the deaths to have taken place on the hazardous crossing so far in 2018.
Last month, Italy blocked a ship from disembarking with 630 migrants rescued from sea.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments