Ricardo Merlo, president of the Italian Association Movement Abroad (MAY)He published a video in which he claims that the electronic identity card is "useless" for those living outside of Europe. He asked Italians in South America to remain calm and said that many would be "unnecessarily agitated" by the new possibility of issuing the document.
On video Recorded at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, Merlo said that Italians can obtain an identity card. (equivalent to the Brazilian RG) And that, with the new law, they will also be able to issue it directly in their municipality of origin. But he used irony to convey his message: "I see that there are many people who are very agitated, desperate for the electronic identity card."
According to Merlo, the document can be issued now and, with the legislative change, it can also be done directly in Italy, as Italianismo had already reported here: Italians abroad can apply for an Identity Card in any Italian comune.
“You have the right to do it, even now. When the law is approved, you can do it in Italy, in your home municipality. Now, what good is it for those of us who live outside of Europe? In truth, it's useless. With a passport, we can move around, come and go, circulate throughout Europe, do whatever we want.”
The president of MAIE urged citizens to avoid going to consulates because of their identity card.
"Therefore, let's not overburden the consulates, don't despair, don't be swayed by agents who want to charge money to carry out a procedure that, if you want, you can do yourself, but it's absolutely unnecessary because it's not useful."
Merlo also said there is no urgency to issue the document. "There's time to do it, years, because the person can really just leave it on their bedside table, clean it, polish it, it's pretty, but as for us who live outside of Europe, it's of zero use."
The statements are noteworthy because they come from the president of a movement created to represent Italians abroad. MAIE was founded with the aim of expanding consular services, facilitating the issuance of documents, and defending the interests of citizens living outside the country.
"It is exclusively up to the citizen to decide which documents to issue, when, and for what purpose. The choice belongs to the individual, not to politicians," says Alessandra Cambiaghi, who provides consulting services on the subject.
The video can be watched here: instagram.com/merlo
