Referring to the EU's "huge fine" levied on Hungary and the six-year prison sentence sought for Matteo Salvini, Italy's deputy PM, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said a "manhunt" for politicians and governments that reject migration is underway.
"Brussels now runs a pro-migration policy, so a manhunt is underway for politicians and governments that reject this," the minister said, responding to a journalist's question at a joint press conference with Serbia's economy minister.
"So we're having to pay a huge fine for protecting our border, and that's also why they're seeking a prison sentence of more than a half-decade for the Italian deputy prime minister," he said, adding: "Are we living in a normal world? Has everyone here in Europe totally lost their minds?"
Salvini, he said, was a responsible politician who had chosen to protect his country and enforce its laws which determined who can enter Italian territory.
Hungary, he added, was being punished for protecting its borders, and yet "no one says a word about" the fact that Germany has closed the internal Schengen borders.
The Schengen area works only if the external borders are protected, he said. "We are now being punished for this," he added.