Debate continued on Wednesday over a new immigration bill, as the centre-right opposition accused the government of a "crackbrained" reform it claims will encourage foreigners to settle in Italy.
The bill, expected to arrive in parliament before the end of the month, seeks to ease existing restrictions on foreigners enacted by the last government.
But the opposition claims the proposed reform is hasty and poorly drafted, and has accused the government of pandering to extremist elements within the nine-way centre-left coalition.
Former communications minister Maurizio Gasparri, a heavyweight in the rightest National Alliance party, said the government's reform was "crackbrained" and would give rise to "compromise, confusion and errors".
The Catholic centrist Carlo Giovanardi, another minister in the previous centre-right government, said his UDC party would fight the bill in parliament.
"The future of our country depends on these issues and we are not willing to accept bungled solutions that pander to the positions of [Welfare Minister Paolo] Ferrero and other members of the hard left," he added.
The UDC's deputy-whip in the House, Maurizio Ronconi, accused the government of "trying to turn Italy into an Eldorado for immigrants".
But government representatives defended the measure, insisting it was a solid bill that was essential for Italy's future.
"In a complicated political field such as immigration, it's positive that ministers from different backgrounds have managed to reach an accord," said Ferrero, referring to reported disagreements he had over the bill with Interior Minister Giuliano Amato, who helped pen the measure.
"It is extremely positive that we've constructed such a concrete proposal".
Interior Undersecretary Antonio Gaglione, speaking at a conference on immigrant health, said immigration had become a "structural necessity for Italy, not just for economic reasons but also demographic ones.
"Pushing for anti-immigration laws is simply short-sighted," he added.
CHANGES TO MIGRANT HOLDING CENTRES.
The debate follows a day of controversy over a key development in the bill, relating to Italy's controversial immigrant holding centres, known as CPTs.
On Tuesday, Ferrero said the number of CPTs would be cut from the current 14 down to just five or six.
The existing system of housing migrant arrivals was greatly expanded by the last government, and since then the CPTs have been the target of mounting criticism, demonstrations and constant media attention.
Critics say the centres are basically prisons, where migrants are kept in overcrowded conditions and without fundamental rights.
Migrants can be held in the CPTs for up to 60 days while authorities try to identify them, process any asylum requests and decide whether to expel them
According to Ferrero, the bill will also modify the purpose of the CPTs, which will only be used to hold immigrants prior to deportation.
In addition to housing those awaiting removal from Italy, the CPTs currently function as reception centres for newly arrived migrants and identification points for asylum seekers.
Ferrero also said journalists, the public and representatives from non-governmental and international organizations would be able to visit the centres freely.
The previous system came under repeated fire for the lack of any independent monitoring procedure, with the United Nations Refugee Agency and the Red Cross both complaining they had been denied access to the centres.
Former interior minister Giuseppe Pisanu responded to the proposed closures suggesting immigration would become "ungovernable", while Gasparri said it was "impossible" just to shut them all down.
The director of a CPT in the Sicilian town of Ragusa, Maria Salme, expressed concern at the government's announcement, suggesting sufficient alternatives had not been put in place.
"Most of all, I'd like to know what on earth they will put all the people who are currently housed in this centre once it's closed?" she asked.
The centre left promised a broad overhaul of the country's immigration legislation as part of its electoral platform and has begun looking at a series of related issues since coming to power in April 2006.
Other legislative changes under discussion include the introduction of a single asylum law and a points-based entry system to encourage managed migration.
Proposals are also being drawn up to grant certain immigrants the vote and make it easier for them to gain Italian citizenship.
The government has cited various reasons for changing the 2002 law, including the length of time it takes to issue residency permits.
