The new tensions between FdI and Lega on “special protection”

Special protection is the new battleground in the majority. Two words, one concept, on which the distance between the line of the League is measured, aimed at increasingly restricting the mesh of the law in an anti-migration key, and the intentions of the Meloni government, which after the Cutro massacre wants to get the message across that the new punitive rules are aimed only at smugglers, in an attempt to avoid the accusation of wanting to blame those killed at sea.

But the words of this morning at the Press of the Northern League undersecretary for the Interior, Nicholas Molteni, leave no doubts about Carroccio’s vision: “I think we are all aware of the need to intervene and stop what has by now become a form of illegal amnesty”, he said referring to special protection. “We must guarantee refugee status and subsidiary protection, i.e. welcome those fleeing war and persecution. The rest is extra and can be deleted“. The direction of the League expressed in the Cutro provision is to eliminate the changes of Conte II – implemented by the then Minister of the Interior Luciana Lamorgese – which widened the possibilities for obtaining special protection. It allows asylum seekers, lacking the necessary characteristics for refugee status or subsidiary protection, to access a residence permit for those who risked persecution in their country of origin.

In the CDM of March 9, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also shared the Northern League line: “Special protection is a case in point that has expanded dramatically and the government’s intention is to abolish it”, he declared. But now, following the perplexities expressed by Colle, it seems that Fratelli d’Italia wants to follow the direction expressed by the undersecretary very close to Meloni, Alfredo Mantovano, who has the goal of reformulate the decree in a more “humanitarian” version.

Even if, the Minister for Relations with Parliament, Luca Ciriani (FdI), speaking to Corriere della Serahe underlined how “special protection cannot become a lock pick. It is necessary – he added – to find the distinction between really protecting those who risk their lives and an umbrella that allows anyone to enter Italy and stay there”.

But the doubts about the changes to Lamorgese persist. So much so that one of the modification options by the majority forces is also on that section of the law which does not currently allow a person to be expelled if “it involves a violation of the right to respect for his private and family life” (excluded for reasons of national security). More the President of the Republic has already indicated his desire for the previous rules to be restored.

However, Molteni is categorical: “As a League we will present our amendments to cancel the special protection and return to the configuration set in 2018 with Salvini at the Interior Ministry. Or at least to further narrow down this case“. The undersecretary points out: “In Parliament everyone will make their own assessments”, and insists “We have the bill signed by Igor Lezzihinged on the Commission in the Chamber which embodies our vision of this matter”. Molteni refers to the new Security decree, the one against which the oppositions are consolidating, against which FdI has already built a wall, and which for the majority could constitute a another difficult knot to untie.