Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani on Thursday said "we have our opinion" on 'ius
scholae' - a proposed citizenship reform under which foreign
minors could become Italian after attending one or two mandatory
school cycles.
"Like other issues that are not part of the government's
program, and which are stressed by other allies, we talk about
them", he added.
Addressing the Rimini Meeting organized by Catholic activist
group Comunione e Liberazione (Communion and Liberation, CL),
Tajani noted that, "it's not like, if a theme is not in the
government's program, you can't talk about it.
"Everyone has the right to say: I don't impose anything on
anyone, but I don't want anyone to impose something to me,
therefore I am free to talk", he noted.
The foreign minister added that the government coalition
includes "different parties" bound by a common program.
"As far as 'ius scholae' is concerned, it is not part of the
government's program so we can express our judgement, we will
also discuss it with allies".
Tajani also said in Rimini that, "being Italian, being European,
being patriotic is not tied to seven generations but to what you
are".
"I'm neither a dangerous subversive not a left-wing extremist",
the leader of forza Italian went on to say, stressing it is
"necessary to look at reality for what it is".
"I insist on education, on identity, on culture, because if you
accept to be European in substance, you are Italian and European
not because your skin is white, yellow, red or green, but
because you have those ideas inside of you, because you live
those values", stated Tajani.
Earlier on Thursday, the Lower House whip of Premier Giorgia
Meloni's party Brothers of Italy (FdI), Tommaso Foti, said a
citizenship reform is not part of the program of the government
nor of single parties in the majority coalition.
The other government partner, Deputy Premier and Transport
Minister Matteo Salvini's League party, has also indicated
through its leader that it is not in favour of a citizenship
reform.
Forza Italia has outlined a roadmap to draft a proposal in
September to change the current legislation, with the support of
opposition parties Azione, Italia Viva and the Five-Star
Movement (M5S).
The opposition Democratic Party (PD) favours the 'ius soli' (law
of the soil) reform under which children born in Italy to
foreign parents would automatically become citizens but has
signalled that it is open to discuss the proposed changes.
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