ROME (Reuters) - The Italian parliament on Wednesday blocked prosecutors from pursuing an investigation into Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini for abuse of power and kidnapping migrants.
With voting still under way, Senator Maurizio Gasparri, who heads the panel charged with considering Salvini's case, said it was already clear that a large majority had voted in his favour.
The issue has sown division within the government and particularly within 5-Star, which has in the past criticised parliamentary manoeuvring to halt judicial proceedings against lawmakers.
In the latest of a series of stand-offs involving charity rescue ships, an Italian vessel carrying 49 African migrants was escorted into the port of Lampedusa by police on Tuesday, with Salvini calling for the crew to be arrested.
Prosecutors on Wednesday ordered the ship to be seized and opened an investigation into the captain on suspicion of aiding and abetting human trafficking.