Deputy Premier and Forza Italia leader Antonio Tajani reaffirmed FI’s commitment to the centre-right while dismissing any potential “shabby deal” with the Left over ius scholae.
This law (ius scholae) could allow immigrant children to apply for citizenship at 16 after completing compulsory education. “We have only expressed our position,” Tajani stated in Verona. “We never said it must be discussed today or tomorrow.”
Tajani stressed, “FI cannot give up its identity. Not least because ius scholae would be stricter than the current citizenship law.” He continued, “This has nothing to do with shabby deals or agreements with the Left. I have always shown which side I am on.”
“A modern centre-right must gather consensus. We always win in the centre. If we abandon the centre, the centre-right is destined to lose.”
Tajani further explained, “I believe that everything we do helps the centre-right. My goal is to continue to win and occupy the spaces left vacant today, the space between Giorgia Meloni and Elly Schlein.”
“I always say the same thing: Forza Italia must occupy that space. We are working to occupy a political space that a modern centre-right cannot leave to others. This, however, has nothing to do with not backing the government.”
He emphasised, “We have always been loyal. We will never go into government either with the Democratic Party or with the 5-Star Movement.”
Regarding the proposed ius scholae, Tajani clarified, “The issue of ius scholae is our vision of society and Italy, not a government priority. We say what we think on this issue.”
He added, “We must also look at a changing Italy, and as centre-right, we must not leave certain topics to the left.”
The centre-left has expressed openness to teaming up with FI to pass ius scholae. However, it prefers ius soli, granting automatic citizenship for being born on Italian soil.
