Approved this Friday (28) by the Council of Ministers of Italy, the decree that restricts citizenship to descendants of Italians provoked immediate reactions within the government. The main criticism came from the Lega, a party led by Matteo Salvini, also deputy prime minister.
The new rule limits the right to citizenship to children and grandchildren of Italians born in the country. More distant descendants, such as great-grandchildren or great-great-grandchildren, are excluded from the current rule, even if they maintain an interest in ties to Italy.
Despite unanimous approval in the council, discontent came soon after the meeting. The MEP Elena Donazzan, of the Fratelli d'Italia, declared to the Corriere del Veneto: “Monetizing our origins is wrong […] I believe it is a cultural error of the center-right, which should favor identity.”
The criticism was reinforced by members of the Lega. Deputy Dimitri Coin questioned: “It is curious that the government is cracking down on people of Venetian, Lombard, Piedmontese or Friulian origin, and at the same time defending citizenship for young immigrants, often Muslims.”
Unexpected alliances and electoral calculations
The Noi Moderati also took a stand against the text. Maurizio Lupi, the party leader, said that the project needs to be re-evaluated: “The text, based on the initial information we have received, absolutely needs to be improved, it needs to be changed. We cannot be prejudiced against our communities abroad. We need to reflect more broadly, we always say this with moderation, as the name suggests, but in this case I must say that we agree even with the League”, says Maurizio Lupi, who adds: “We, the moderates, represent the most important party representing Italians abroad, namely the Maie, and we were not involved in drafting the text”.
According to interlocutors linked to the government, the reaction is related to the electoral weight of Italian descendants. Lega and Noi Moderati maintain ties with these communities, especially in South America. “The Italian citizenship brings votes,” said a source with access to the negotiations.
Forza Italia defends the urgency of the measure
The proposal was put forward by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani of Forza Italia. The Lega's criticisms surprised the party. "It is strange that Lega deputies disagree with a measure approved by their own ministers," said Raffaele Nevi, the party's spokesman.
Behind the scenes, however, it is said that neither Salvini nor Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signed the decree, even though they were present at the meeting.
According to Nevi, adjustments can be made during the process in Parliament, but the decree is necessary. “It is a fair rule, to put an end to fraud and abuse in the granting of citizenship, which should be earned, not given as a gift,” he said.
The episode reveals yet another crack in the coalition led by Meloni. With different electoral interests, the debate over citizenship promises new disputes. If tensions increase, the risk of instability in the government grows.
