FM 'not dictating, accepting impositions on citizenship reform'

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 22 - 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.
    (ANSA).