Amid growing debate over changes to Italian citizenship law, the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni positioned himself against any revision, stating that the country already has one of the most generous laws in Europe.
His statements came as a referendum proposal, supported by public figures, gains traction among the population.
Coalition split, but Meloni stands firm
During a press conference in New York, where he is participating in the 79th United Nations Assembly, Meloni made it clear that he sees no need for adjustments to the current citizenship law. “Italy has excellent citizenship legislation”, she said, highlighting that the country is already among those that grant or recognize the most citizenships in Europe. Therefore, according to the prime minister, any change would be unnecessary.
The positioning contradicts the line of thinking of some members of his own coalition, such as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, from Forza Italia. He had said that his party was working on a bill that would be presented first to its allies before going to Parliament. However, he stressed that the bill would not be used to cause divisions in the ruling coalition.
“We will not engage in parliamentary moves on such a serious issue as citizenship,” Tajani reinforced, referring to possible attempts by the opposition to exploit the issue to weaken the government alliance.
Meanwhile, the push for popular referendum continues to grow, with more than 500 signatures collected in just 72 hours, thanks to the support of influencers and public figures. Meloni recognized the legitimacy of the referendum: “If there is a referendum, that is true democracy, and the Italians are the ones who decide.”
