A School Decree Written in Rome, Read From the Brenner

The Italian government adopted a decree law on Thursday banning burqas and niqabs in schools and capping the number of pupils with a poor command of Italian in each class, according to the BBC and The Local Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as "common-sense tools that do not divide but really help to integrate", the BBC reported. The New York Times wrote that she said the goal was to better integrate non-Italian-speaking children, while critics accused her of trying to appease anti-immigrant sentiment.

The Guardian reported on Friday that those critics say the decree shows Meloni is "running scared" and courting far-right voters ahead of next year's general election. Deutsche Welle framed the package the same way, as new school rules capping the number of students who do not speak fluent Italian and banning face coverings. The Local Italy noted the cabinet adopted it as a decree law, the instrument Italian governments use when they want a measure in force before parliament converts it.