Citizenship reform not in cabinet's program - Foti

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 22 - The Lower House whip of Premier Giorgia Meloni's party Brothers of Italy (FdI), Tommaso Foti, told the Agorà program of State broadcaster RAI's third channel on Thursday that a citizenship reform is not part of the government's program nor of single parties in the majority coalition.
    "Electors voted a program: it is legitimate to discuss issues outside the program, but there is reasonable doubt to believe that this is a topic reflecting the opposition to sow confusion", Foti said, speaking about proposed changes to the current legislation, referred to as 'ius soli' (in Latin, law of the soil), and 'ius scholae' (In Latin, law of the right to study).
    On Wednesday, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, leader of Forza Italia (FI), told Rome daily La Repubblica that "Italy has changed" and needs a citizenship reform, while acknowledging that his government partners - Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) and Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini's League party - are not in favour of a change.
    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) is less keen on Forza Italia's idea of a 'ius scholae' which would potentially grant citizenship to foreign minors who have completed one or two cycles of studies rather than the 'ius soli' it is championing.
    However, it has signalled that it is open to discuss changes to the current law - under which second generation immigrants can apply to become Italian citizens after they have turned 18.
    (ANSA).