Nothing wrong with 'Italy for Italians' slogan says Valditara after students punished

There is nothing wrong with the

slogan "Italy for the Italian", which has been repeatedly used

by government parties, Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara

said Wednesday after two students at a Cesena high school were

disciplined after displaying a banner with those words on when

school broke up last week.

Valditara told parliament that he had ordered an investigation

into the actions of the school officials, who gave the students

a barely passing mark of six for behaviour and made them write

an essay as a punishment for the banner.

"The statement 'Italy for the Italians' is not only

unobjectionable, but is certainly acceptable because it

encompasses all citizens of our country," the minister said at

question time in the Lower House.

" It is a phrase repeatedly used by the political movements that

constitute the government.

"Following the decisions taken by the class council of the Monti

High School in Cesena regarding the conduct of two students who

displayed a banner reading 'Italy for Italians,' I have

initiated an ongoing investigation with the Emilia-Romagna

School Office."

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