The Italian Senate's Justice Committee approved this Tuesday, the 13th, a new attack on Italians born and residing abroad.
With an amendment to what has already been criticized – and unconstitutional – Decree-Law 36, the government decided to make what was already bad worse: if approved in the Senate and the House, the new rule will allow even recognized Italian citizens to lose their citizenship if they fail to prove, within three years, their command of the Italian language at level B1.
The measure affects adults whose parents and grandparents were also born outside Italy and who have dual citizenship. If they do not present the proficiency certificate within the deadline, the consequence is clear: automatic loss of citizenship.
A punitive, not educational bureaucracy
The amendment – signed by senators from Fratelli d'Italia (FdI), Lega and Maie – transforms a historical right into a conditional favor. As Senator Francesco Giacobbe (PD) stated, this is “a direct attack on Italians abroad, on their history and dignity.”
The old Brazilian political slogan “it can’t get any worse than this” has been overcome. It has been overcome — and by a long shot.
If approved, the requirement will also apply to minors: between the ages of 18 and 25, young people must present the certificate or they will be considered to have renounced their citizenship. Only those over 70 or people with permanent disabilities, proven by a medical report, will be exempt.
It remains to be seen whether Italian Supreme Court will accept this nonsense if this Decree becomes Law.
Check the amendment
Maintenance of citizenship
(for citizens born and residing abroad)
With regard to the certificate referred to in paragraph 1 and the certification referred to in paragraph 2, false statements are equivalent to the renunciation referred to in paragraph 2.
Italian citizens of legal age, born and residing abroad, whose first- and second-degree ancestors were also born abroad and hold Italian citizenship and another citizenship, must, within three years from the date this law comes into force, submit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, hereinafter "MAECI", or to the competent consulates, a certificate proving knowledge of the Italian language, at least at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), issued by institutions recognized by the consulates. The consulates transmit to MAECI the names of the recognized institutions for their inclusion in a specific Register.
For citizens born and residing abroad and under the age of eighteen, the obligation referred to in paragraph 1 applies between the age of majority (18 years) and twenty-five years of age. Failure to present the certificate by the age of twenty-five constitutes a renunciation of Italian citizenship. Italian citizens over 70 years of age and Italian citizens whose permanent disability or health problems are attested to by a medical certificate proving the impossibility of obtaining it are exempt from this obligation.
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