MATTEO SALVINI has dared senators to put him on trial for alleged kidnapping after he ordered migrants be held on a rescue ship last year.

Lawmakers voted today on whether the far-right opposition leader and former interior minister should face trial for delaying coastguard ship Gregoretti and its 131 rescued migrants from disembarking in Sicily in July 2019.

Mr Salvini has previously sought to avoid trial, but urged fellow League party members to vote in yesterday’s senate commission to lift his immunity so that “all of Italy” can judge him.

A confirmatory vote to remove Mr Salvini’s immunity would then be held by the full Senate in February.

Italy’s governing parties fear he will exploit a potential trial to win sympathy votes for League in the upcoming regional elections.

Tens of thousands of activists from the Sardines movement packed into Bologna’s biggest square in protest against Mr Salvini’s party on Sunday.

They fear the League may take the seat in Emilia-Romagna, which has been held by the centre-left for 70 years.