In November, Italy refused to let the charity ship Ocean Viking which was carrying 234 migrants to dock, forcing France to welcome them. Commenting to The Financial Times on this incident, law professor at HEC Paris Business School said: "As prime minister of Italy, she is expected to represent the Italian interest at the table. This does not necessarily mean to... mechanically say ‘yes’ to everything in Brussels. She is taking a political stance that is helping her political momentum at home."