Matteo Salvini's League party was at the centre of tension within Premier Mario Draghi's government over the Green Pass on Wednesday, breaking ranks with the rest of the ruling majority in parliamentary votes on the vaccine passport for the second consecutive day Salvini, meanwhile, said that, as far as he knows, the executive is not planning to extend the scope of the Green Pass COVID-19 passport to make it obligatory for all private and public sector workers.
On Monday Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the government was considering extending the scope of the Green Pass.
"I spoke to Premier Draghi and there was nothing about extending the Green Pass to all public and private sector workers," Salvini said during a visit to the Milan Furniture Fair on Wednesday.
"This is different from what I read in some newspapers and this comforts me". Salvini also ruled out making it obligatory for people to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Draghi last week said he was in favour of making the COVID jab obligatory.
"I rule out the vaccine obligation being discussed," Salvini said.
"Making it obligatory would be counterproductive. It would scare people and increase doubts".
The green certificate, which shows that someone is vaccinated for the coronavirus, has recovered from it or has recently tested negative, is already necessary to travel abroad and for access to certain events, such as weddings, sporting events, concerts, and in order to visit care homes.
It is also needed for long distance travel on domestic flights, ferries and high-speed trains and to be able to sit at a table inside bars and restaurants.
All school and higher education staff must have it, as well as university students.
Vaccinations were already obligatory for health workers before the Green Pass was set up.
On Tuesday the League dropped its amendments in parliament to a decree regulating the Green Pass, which meant the government did not have to put the legislation to a confidence vote to make sure if progressed.
But then it voted in favour of an amendment presented by the opposition, right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party against the obligation to have the Green Pass to be able to sit inside restaurants.
Then on Wednesday it voted in favour of an FdI amendment that would have exempted minors over 12 from the obligation to have the Green Pass if it had passed.
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