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The leader of Italy’s far-right Lega party, now preparing for a snap election, was speaking after Gere visited Spanish charity boat the Open Arms ship in a show of support on Friday, before joining a news conference on the Italian island of Lampedusa to call for the 160 migrants stuck on the boat to be allowed to disembark. However, Mr Salvini, who this week pushed through parliament tougher sanctions on charity ships that seek to bring migrants rescued at sea to Italy, rapidly issued a statement in which he said: "Given this generous millionaire is voicing concern for the fate of the Open Arms migrants, we thank him.

He can take back to Hollywood, on his private plane, all the people aboard and support them in his villas. Thank you Richard! Matteo Salvini

“He can take back to Hollywood, on his private plane, all the people aboard and support them in his villas. Thank you Richard!" Mr Gere had earlier compared the political situation in Italy, where Mr Salvini has repeatedly refused requests by migrant ships to dock, to that of the US administration of Donald Trump, who earlier this week launched large scale raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers which resulted in the arrests of 680 people. The Pretty Woman star said: "We have our problems with refugees coming from Honduras, Salavador, Nicaragua, Mexico.

Matteo Salvini said Gere should let the migrants "live in his Hollywood villas"

Richard Gere is worth an estimated £100million

The Open Arms boat has been operating in the Mediterranean

The Open Arms said it had rescued more people on Saturday. The boat was at sea near Lampedusa with 121 people aboard from earlier rescues when, late on Friday evening, Maltese authorities asked it to assist 39 people in a wooden raft. Malta had offered to accept the 39 people from this rescue but not the 121 already aboard, among them 32 minors, they added, saying the NGO had refused the offer. JUST IN: BBC panel stunned after Brexiteer reveals why Britain has the upper hand over Brussels

The boat has been rescuing migrants attempting to cross often treacherous seas

Mr Salvini's former coalition partner Luigi Di Maio

Open Arms founder Oscar Camps said on Twitter: “Salvini has refused to disembark the other 121 people who have been aboard for 9 days. “This has created a serious security problem aboard. “Their levels of anxiety are unsustainable.” The boat has been in limbo since Malta and Italy rejected requests to disembark there.

A chart showing the number of lives saved by Open Arms

Spain's Socialist government accepted the Acquarius NGO boat last year following a similar standoff but has since hardened its position, saying that the Open Arms should look for a closer port. This week the European Union's executive called on member states to show solidarity and find a solution for the boat. Over the course of a career spanning more than 40 years, Gere, 69, has starred in films including Pretty Woman and An Officer and a Gentleman.

Richard Gere drew parallels between Mr Salvini and US President Donald Trump