Dilemmas over the right-wing programme. The Occhiuto faction within Forza Italia is insisting on end-of-life issues, citizenship and civil rights. But the Lega does not want them

There is much talk of the broad coalition’s election manifesto. But even on the right, there are some ominous signs of irreconcilability as we look ahead to the next parliamentary term. These are the days of Roberto Occhiuto’s comeback; the President of Calabria has regained a central role within Forza Italia following Fabio Roscioli’s victory in the by-election. Yesterday he had a “frank” discussion with Tajani (mediated by Gianni Letta). He has been touring Italy to present his book, giving interviews on radio and television. And it was during one such interview yesterday, on ‘Un Giorno da Pecora’, that he raised an issue which has long been debated in private discussions within the Occhiuto faction: asserting their ‘liberal’ positions in the coalition’s forthcoming election manifesto. On end-of-life issues, “I would like to see less timidity, and no temptation to pass the buck”, said the Forza Italia deputy secretary. “I hope that this can be achieved at the start of the next parliamentary term and that such a law will feature in the centre-right’s manifesto for the forthcoming elections.” This is no small point of contention, as members of FdI have pointed out that a law on end-of-life issues was not “in the government’s programme”. On civil rights too, spurred by the views expressed by Marina Berlusconi, the ambition of Occhiuto, Zangrillo and the others is to “do more”. It is unlikely, however, that the Lega – which will run a campaign responding blow for blow to Vannacci – will agree. The same applies to a new law on citizenship.

It has been over a year since Deputy Prime Minister Tajani last attempted to reintroduce the Ius scholae. “Fratelli d’Italia wanted it too,” he said. Barelli, then the Forza Italia group leader in the Chamber of Deputies, went so far as to call the League members who opposed the scheduling of the text presented by Forza Italia for debate in the Chamber “ignorant”. The response? “We believe that the proposal is not a priority for the League, nor for the government, nor for Italians.” As far as we are aware, the party’s position has remained unchanged. Indeed, the filibustering tactic has, in its own way, become even more entrenched in the meantime. This is because, according to League sources, “it is clear that, especially during an election campaign, you cannot insist on an issue on which Vannacci would have an easy time attacking us”. The ‘Generalissimo’ himself, in the ‘Futuro Nazionale’ programme, has drawn up a very restrictive proposal for obtaining citizenship: “Twenty years of lawful and continuous residence, C1 language proficiency, written and oral exams, and honourable conduct”, but also a “formal declaration of acceptance of and assimilation into Greek, Roman and Christian civilisation”. There are also plans for much stricter rules on family reunification. This carries the risk that the government’s immigration decrees, designed to allow foreign workers required by industry to enter Italy, could be brought to a halt. Furthermore, on the issue of so-called ‘gender’, the rivalry with Vannacci risks halting any process of expanding rights. This is a view that has also taken hold within Giorgia Meloni’s party. If, as we reported yesterday in Il Foglio, on the one hand Occhiuto and the others are aiming to carve out a space for themselves with economic proposals for the budget (even though, on closer inspection, the estimates regarding the abolition of personal income tax for the under-35s seem completely off the mark: it would cost billions), on the other hand they want to revive that ‘Berlusconian’ agenda (including by bringing in four or five more high-profile figures to support Tajani) – an agenda to which their allies, however, are unwilling to give any ground. These are dilemmas almost on a grand scale.