Ius scholae, a clash in the centre-right Tajani raises the challenge to Lega and Fdi

The clash is real. Forza Italia insists on ius scholae, the recognition of citizenship to foreigners who have at least 10 years of schooling in Italy behind them. The leader (and deputy prime minister) Antonio Tajani does so directly: 'We are ready to discuss with everyone. Parliament is sovereign. Whoever wants to vote on our proposal will vote for it'. It means opening up to the contribution of the oppositions, who had already shown their willingness in the past and who also offered their support yesterday. And as has already happened, the reaction of the allies came immediately. Which is obviously one of total closure. First the League and then Fdi spoke of an 'inadmissible', 'technically wrong' proposal, only good for 'political propaganda'.

"Citizenship is fine the way it is," says the Leghist Rossano Sasso, who brands the forzisti's exit as a "summer boutade," while Silvia Sardone, who is also deputy secretary of the Carroccio, recalls the outcome of the referendum and concludes with a "let's make proposals on what Italians want. Mirroring words come from Fratelli d'Italia, albeit in less vehement tones. Sara Kelany, head of immigration for Meloni's party, stresses that the issue 'is not part of the programme', but in any case 'we do not experience FI's declarations as a problem'. Giovanni Donzelli, the PM's loyalist, also repeats this: 'Our position on citizenship is well known, let's say it has even been strengthened a little with the referendum. Then of course we are not under the same party, as Tajani also said, everyone has their own sensitivities, if anyone on the left hopes that there will be a crisis in the Meloni government on this issue they will be disappointed, as always'. The crack, however, is there. "Our position on the ius scholae is known, but forcing is not useful, it is counterproductive and only risks breaking the unity of the coalition,' warns Maurizio Lupi of Noi Moderati. While Fdi's group leader in the Senate Lucio Malan reminds Tajani of "the majority constraint" and that is, "we discuss things among ourselves, then each one takes the positions he considers".

Now the question to ask is why Forza Italia, Tajani in the first person, has launched this new lunge on a delicate dossier that is indigestible to its allies. The answer is that Fi wants to gain space. And given that on its right there is already a lot of crowding with Lega and Fdi, the Azzurri are looking to the opposite front where the impatience of the reformist wing is increasingly evident. "We want to recover the disappointed voters of the PD," the number one of the party founded by Berlusconi has said on several occasions. And rights are fertile ground for sowing.

Just a year ago it was Marina, the Chevalier's eldest daughter, who made it clear. From the Dems came immediate applause from Graziano Delrio and Piero De Luca, who are now urging the Forza Italia leader to go ahead. The same is repeated by Italia viva (Renzi in primis), Azione and even Giuseppe Conte for the M5s. But nothing will happen. And everyone knows this too. Starting with Tajani, who after animating the day throws water on the fire and anticipates that the assumption of '10 years' is not revisable (the PD proposal envisages 5). "We will ask for our proposal to be hinged, but now there are all the decrees, everything is jammed. And then there is the justice reform, which is our top priority'. In short, for the 'Ius Italiae' (this is the definition used by the Azzurri), there is still a long wait.