Transport Minister Graziano Delrio
on Thursday joined a hunger strike by Italian teachers to urge
parliament to pass a bill granting citizenship to the children
of long-term immigrants born on Italian soil who have spent at
least five years in the Italian school system.
"After so many shouted words, it is time to reflect on the
'ius soli' (law of the soil) bill," Delrio told La Repubblica
daily.
Rightwing and centre-right parties have stopped the bill,
wppaorved by the Lower House almost two years ago, from being
approved in the Senate, where the government majority depends on
the centre-right Popular Area (AP) party.
Delrio said that after much misrepresentation of the bill,
"people will finally understand what is in it" because of the
hunger strike, started by a group of teachers earlier this week.
Speaking later Thursday, he said that party discipline should
not be expected on such a moral issue.
"If we don't make it, amen," he added.
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