The international association Natitaliani declared firm opposition to the new Decree-Law approved by the Council of Ministers of Italy, which alters the recognition of Italian citizenship jure sanguinis. The measure, published without consulting Parliament or Italian entities abroad, came into force immediately.
“The provision represents a direct attack on a fundamental right of secular origin, undermining the very foundations of Italianness in the world,” states the official note released by the entity.
The association is chaired by Daniel Taddone, sociologist, genealogist and advisor at CGIE (Consiglio Generale degli Italiani all'Estero)The organization has renowned lawyers specializing in Italian citizenship law. They consider the measure political, authoritarian, and harmful.
“Instead of adopting measures to make public administration more efficient and combat abuses, the Government chose the shortest and most harmful path: canceling a historic right,” the note criticizes.
Deadline set and immediate impact
The decree establishes a limitation period until March 27, 2025, after which applications for citizenship by descent will be automatically rejected. “It violates the principle of non-retroactivity, retroactively imposing a limitation period,” the statement points out.
According to Natitaliani, the sudden publication has already resulted in suspensions of consular appointments and will generate an exponential increase in lawsuits. “It will inevitably create an exponential increase in litigation, further burdening an already strained justice system.”
The entity also disputes the justification of fraud as the basis for the decree. “It refers to alleged episodes of fraud, never quantified, using them as a pretext to justify a punitive measure against millions of descendants of Italians who have an inalienable right since birth.”
“They threw the baby out with the bathwater”
In the statement, Natitaliani uses a metaphor of English origin to sum up the Italian government's decision: “This decree means 'throwing the baby out with the bathwater'.”
The organization also denounces the lack of democratic debate and participation of the communities involved. “A decision on a matter of such importance did not result from democratic discussions with Parliament or with organizations that know the reality of Italians abroad, but was taken behind closed doors, in the dead of night.”
international mobilization
The association says it will mobilize “all political forces, associations, the Catholic world, communities of Italian descendants around the world, constitutionalists and jurists” to reverse the measure.
For Natitaliani, the decree ignores the value of the Italian diaspora: “If 'Made in Italy' is still synonymous with excellence in the world today, it is also thanks to the millions of Italians abroad who, with their traditions, values and lifestyle, have kept Italy's prestige high on an international level.”
Combating misinformation
The organization also promises to act against the distorted image of those seeking citizenship: “We will continue to fight against the manipulations and distortions of the media that try to portray Italian descendants as individuals interested only in obtaining 'easy passports' or in exploiting the Italian health and social security system.”
The note highlights that residents abroad do not have automatic access to Italian public services. “In reality, residents abroad do not have access to the health or social security system unless they have contributed for at least 10 years as residents in Italy.”
In conclusion, Natitaliani reiterates: “Italian citizenship is an inalienable right, the result of a shared history and deep ties that cannot be erased with a legislative stroke of the pen.”
Read the full statement
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM NATITALIANI
Natitaliani firmly and decisively opposes the recent Decree-Law approved by the Council of Ministers, which radically modifies the regulations on Italian citizenship. This provision represents a direct attack on a fundamental right of secular origin, undermining the very foundations of Italian identity in the world.
Instead of adopting measures to make public administration more efficient and combat abuses, the Government has chosen the shortest and most harmful path: to cancel a historic right. It refers to alleged episodes of fraud, never quantified, using them as a pretext to justify a punitive measure against millions of descendants of Italians who have an inalienable right since birth.
It is unacceptable that, instead of intervening with targeted preventive and corrective actions, they opt for a drastic solution that indiscriminately penalizes a large community. Using a well-known English metaphor, this decree means “throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”
This clearly political decree-law has authoritarian characteristics that evoke the darkest periods in Italy’s history. The “fascist” orientation of the proposed decree is, first and foremost, substantially incorrect: it ignores the rights of Italians born abroad and underestimates, on a global level, their immense economic and cultural potential. Furthermore, it violates the principle of non-retroactivity by retroactively imposing a limitation period – set at 27 March 2025 – that automatically rejects applications, even if they are ready to be submitted.
Even the method adopted is unacceptable: a decision on a matter of such importance did not result from democratic discussions with Parliament or with organizations that know the reality of Italians abroad, but was taken behind closed doors, in the dead of night.
Natitaliani therefore understands that the economic, moral and image damage resulting from this decree is incalculable.
If “Made in Italy” is still synonymous with excellence in the world today, it is also thanks to the millions of Italians abroad who, with their traditions, values and lifestyle, have maintained Italy’s prestige at an international level.
Furthermore, the immediate entry into force of the decree will inevitably create an exponential increase in litigation, further burdening an already strained judicial system. The suspensions of appointments and new appointments for iuris sanguinis recognition, announced without prior notice, will further increase the chaos and uncertainty for thousands of families.
Natitaliani is committed to mobilizing all political forces, associations, the Catholic world, communities of Italian descendants around the world, constitutionalists and jurists, as well as to raising awareness among Italian public opinion about the irreparable damage that this short-sighted measure will inflict on the country's system and on Italians, wherever they are born.
We will continue to fight against media manipulations and distortions that attempt to portray Italian descendants as individuals interested only in obtaining “easy passports” or in exploiting the Italian health and pension system. In reality, those living abroad do not have access to the health or pension system unless they have contributed for at least 10 years as residents in Italy.
As far as the right to vote is concerned, Italians abroad can only express themselves by voting for a limited number of parliamentarians. On these and other issues, we will provide concrete data to prevent the citizenship debate from being further exploited for political purposes.
Natitaliani strongly reiterates that Italian citizenship is an inalienable right, the result of a shared history and deep ties that cannot be erased with a legislative stroke of the pen. We invite all Italians, residing in Italy and abroad, to join us in this fight for justice, dignity, and respect for the fundamental rights of citizenship.
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