After criticism, senators remove B1 requirement for Italians abroad

Hours after approving an amendment to the Decree-Law 36, which required an Italian proficiency test for citizens born and residing abroad to maintain their citizenship, Italian senators backed down and withdrew the text of the proposal.

The measure provided that adults whose parents and grandparents were also born outside Italy would lose their citizenship if they did not present, within three years, a certificate of proficiency at level B1 in the Italian language. The requirement would also apply to young people between the ages of 18 and 25.

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As previously reported by Italianism, the proposal was classified as an attack on the dignity of the Italian community outside Italy. Senator Francesco Giacobbe (PD) denounced the measure as “a direct attack on Italians abroad, on their history and dignity”.

Political pressure and negative repercussions

The immediate repercussion among parliamentarians, associations and citizens on social media was decisive. The fear of a political and institutional crisis led the authors of the proposal themselves to back down.

Among the names linked to the amendment were senators Menia, Spinelli, Della Porta, De Priamo, Russo, Pirovano, Spelgatti, Borghese, Barcaiuolo and Rapani, all from parties in the government base.

The withdrawal of the amendment represents a momentary victory for Italians abroad, who reacted with astonishment to the attempt to limit a right inherited by blood and history.