The CGIE advisor (Consiglio Generale degli Italiani all'Estero), Daniel Taddone, made harsh criticisms of the Tajani Decree during a live broadcast this Saturday, May 10, live from Sicily.
According to him, the text being processed in the Senate represents a concrete and unfair threat to the citizenship of millions of descendants of Italians, mainly Brazilians and Argentines.
O Decree-Law 36 proposes restricting the recognition of Italian citizenship. jure sanguinis only in cases where the ascendant has exclusively Italian citizenship — which, according to Taddone, would practically exclude all descendants from Latin America. "If your grandfather was born in Argentina and is also an Argentinian citizen, it no longer counts. It's a senseless rule," he stated.
“We are faced with a monstrous decree. What they are doing in the Italian Senate is a legal monstrosity, a lack of respect for the Constitution and for Italian citizens abroad,” said Taddone, who has been closely following the parliamentary process.
During the broadcast, he compared the senators' performance to the plot of the film The Brancaleone Army, comedy cult from the 1960s that portrays a clumsy and unprepared group. "That's exactly what's happening in the Senate. A meeting of incompetent people who haven't the slightest idea what they're doing. They are completely unaware of what Italian citizenship is."
Text closed and approved “by force”
Taddone warned that the decree should be voted on between May 14 and 15 and that there is no expectation of rejection. “The text will be presented by the committee and will be approved. The chance of this not happening is minimal,” he said. According to him, after being approved in the Senate, the text will go to the Chamber of Deputies under a matter of trust – mechanism that prevents changes. “It will arrive protected, closed. And it will be converted into law exactly as it leaves the Senate”.
Among the main points criticized, Taddone highlighted the requirement that the ascendant have exclusively Italian citizenship. "That would practically exclude everyone. A grandfather who was born in Argentina, even if he is the son of Italians, is also Argentinian. In other words, he would no longer be considered a transmitter of citizenship," he explained.
Tajani is the target of criticism
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was another direct target of Taddone. “He is absolutely mad against us. Today he once again posted offensive statements against Italian-Brazilians and Italian-Argentines, accusing them of obtaining citizenship just to go to Miami,” he said, referring to posts made on the minister’s social media.
“It is extremely violent and disrespectful. Tajani can’t say anything positive. He just keeps saying that we are a problem. And to get rid of the Italian-Argentines and Italian-Brazilians, he and his allies are trampling on everything,” he said.
The only way out will be through legal means
Taddone believes that, with the approval of the decree, the only option left for descendants will be the judicial route. “The judicial route will, with good probability, be the only option from the end of May onwards.”
Taddone believes that the only real alternative will be the judicial route, especially from the end of May. “It will be the only viable path, but it requires resources and patience.”
He warned that the first to be harmed will be those who were waiting their turn to file documents at consulates. “They will be blocked by a text that makes no sense and is blatantly unconstitutional.”
For Taddone, the legislative process has been flawed from the beginning. “I’ve been saying since March 28: this text will be approved, and it will be approved as it is. There’s no point in hoping. What’s left now is to follow what happens on Tuesday, and then think about how to react.”
Voting and next steps
The Italian Senate approved, on Thursday the 8th, a set of amendments to the text of Decree-Law 1432, which modifies the rules for the recognition of Italian citizenship by descent.
The changes are part of Decree-Law No. 36/2025, known as the “Tajani Decree”. Despite approval by the 1st Standing Committee, part of the content will still be debated in a new round of negotiations scheduled for Tuesday, May 13.
The text may be voted on in the Senate between the 14th and 15th and then go to the Chamber of Deputies to be assessed and voted on around May 23rd.
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