Forza Italia (FI) has expressed
willingness to consider a reform on citizenship, outlining 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 main opposition party, the Democratic Left, is less keen on
Forza Italia's idea of a 'ius scholae' (in Latin, law of the
right to study) 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 (in Latin, law of
the soil) under which those born in Italy would be Italian.
Members have however signalled that they are open to changes to
the current law - under which second generation immigrants can
apply to become Italian citizens after they have turned 18 -
with PD MEP Giorgio Gori saying "the objective remains ius soli,
but Forza Italia's opening on ius scholae, if it becomes
official, is worthy of full consideration".
On Sunday, Fulvio Martuscello, Forza Italia's whip in the
European Parliament, said "ius scholae can become a European
model".
He added that "common rules" in Europe are "necessary for
everybody to avoid uncontrolled migration".
"If the rules to obtain citizenship were to become common for
all of Europe, there wouldn't be a race to reach Italy, or
Denmark or any other country".
A day earlier, Paolo Emilio Russo, FI's whip in the Lower
House's constitutional affairs commission, said his party's
whips and leader Antonio Tajani, the deputy premier and foreign
minister, would meet at the beginning of September to discuss
the issue and write a draft proposal.
Maurizio Lupi, leader of the conservative Noi Moderati, also
said Sunday that he was "in favour of granting citizenship to
the offspring of foreigners who have completed two cycles of
studies in Italy".
Meanwhile, the deputy president of the Lower House Sergio Costa
of M5S on Sunday wrote in a post on social media that "ius
scholae is a just reform and represents a fair, inclusive and
fundamental solution to respond to the needs of a society that
is increasingly more multicultural and integrated".
However, the League party in the majority coalition is against
changing the ongoing legislation and has said in a statement
issued a few days ago that "there is not need for a 'ius soli'
or shortcuts".
Premier Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party has not
shown interest in changing the current legislation.
Without mentioning the proposal, Tommaso Foti, FdI's whip in the
Lower House, warned coalition members to "avoid divisions over
themes which the left considers fundamental today, except
carefully ignoring them when they were in the majority".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
