Democratic Party Seeks To Discard Salvini’s Anti-Migration Policies

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The coalition between two rival parties, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) seeks to revise Matteo Salvini’s anti-migration policies. 

The new Italian government headed by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte aims to align migration policies with global treaties and improve EU relations.

Campaigners and NGO groups hope that with the coalition and newly appointed Interior Minister, the previous government’s migration policy can finally change.

Graziano Delrio, the PD leader in the lower house, stated on Wednesday that the administration is already moving to create a new immigration law.

Nicola Zingaretti, the Democratic Party’s pro-EU head, praised the coalition.

“We stopped Salvini, and merely the announcement of this [new] phase is making Italy again a protagonist in Europe,” he said.

“This turning point is good. Now it’s time to change Italy,” Zingaretti added.

Prime Minister Conte has named Luciana Lamorgese, a former Milan security chief and top civil servant with no political affiliation, to serve as the new interior minister, replacing far-right League leader Matteo Salvini.

Lamorgese, a 38-year veteran of the interior ministry, has been overseeing refugee and migrant reception centres in northern Italy in recent years. 

She is well known for her integration programs and policies. She was also the first female security chief, or prefect, of Milan.

Meanwhile, Salvini continues to top opinion polls. 

Political scientist Giovanni Orsina from Rome’s Luiss University said, “Salvini won for certain reasons, and these reasons haven’t changed.

“The government must show that it’s taking the concerns of its citizens seriously – only then could support for Salvini diminish.

“It’s not just a question of opinion polls, rather we’ll soon have elections in the regions of Umbria and Emiglia Romania. These are traditionally left-leaning regions. If the right wins in those districts this time, it could become difficult for the new government.”

Salvini called the new administration “a government produced by Paris and Berlin, borne out of fear to give up power, without dignity or ideals, with the wrong people in the wrong places.”

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