The debate on the Decree-Law No. 36, of March 28, 2025, which changes rules for the recognition of Italian citizenship, dominated the session of the 1st Permanent Committee of the Senate, this Tuesday, 15th.
The proposal targets practices considered abusive in the recognition of descent, but has received criticism for affecting millions of Italian descendants, mainly in South America.
the senator Francesca La Marca (Democratic party) was one of the most forceful:
“It is a mistake to resort to an emergency decree. There is no justification. The text was drafted without dialogue with parliamentarians elected abroad or with the CGIE (General Council of Italians Abroad).”
She warned about the practical impacts on consular representations: "a chaotic situation was created. Appointments for citizenship were blocked, including for those who have a legitimate right.”
For La Marca, the appropriate path would be another: “it would be better to adopt a language, culture and civic education test, as Canada and the United States do”.
Robert Menia (FdI) He countered the arguments, stating that the decree aims to curb the explosion of requests, especially from Brazil and Argentina: “we have received tens of thousands of requests based on a six-generation line of descent, often without any link to Italy,” he said.
He also highlighted the economic side of the process: “each order costs around 5 euros. It’s a business that moves millions,” he said, referring to intermediaries and legal structures involved.
The senator, however, acknowledged that adjustments are necessary:
“The rule may be too strict. That is why I propose a B1 level Italian test, facilitating those who want to return to Italy and periodically proving ties to the country.”
The text also determines that anyone born abroad and has another nationality will be considered as never having acquired the Italian citizenship, with retroactive effect. This prevented new applications after March 27.
The senator Antonio Nicita (Democratic party) considered the use of the decree inappropriate:
“It is anomalous to treat a constitutional right with urgency. The focus should be on the future of the population, which is aging and seeing its young people emigrate.”
On the same line, Andrea Tosato (League) warned of the imbalance between control and cultural ties: “We need to contain abuses, yes. But we also need to protect the feeling of Italianness in communities abroad.”
“These people are ambassadors of Italy in the world. If there is no balance, we will lose the bond they maintain with our country.”
Alessandro Cataldi (M5S) classified the justification for the urgency as “imprecise”: “You cannot address an issue that affects 80 million people of Italian descent because of complaints from one or two municipalities in Veneto.”
The senator suggested a technical pause: “We can temporarily suspend the analyses to review the criteria, support the municipalities and better assess the impact of retroactivity”.
Now the senator Daphne Musolino (Italy Viva) pointed out contradictions in form and content: “The decree transforms the recognition of citizenship into a denial of rights. Anyone who has not applied by March 27th loses the chance forever.”
She believes that the government should prioritize structural improvements:
“We could have digitized processes or expanded consular offices. Opting for exclusion, especially retroactively, is unacceptable.”
Musolino also recalled the economic role of emigrants: “From Sicily alone, 300 million euros are sent by Italians abroad to their families. Are we going to deny citizenship to those who support entire regions?”
The Undersecretary Mary Tripodi, senator of Forza Italy, thanked the “valuable elements of reflection” and signaled openness to dialogue.
The debate continues in the session on Wednesday, April 16. The government indicated openness to considering amendments (until 17pm today), but there is still no consensus on the future of the decree.
O Italianism learned, through unquestionable sources, that Lega, the party that supports the government, has already submitted an amendment to the original text. The proposal seeks to preserve, at least in part, the rights of descendants of Italians born abroad.
The content of the amendment has not yet been officially released, but it represents a sign that part of the majority seeks to mitigate the harshest effects of the decree.
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