A proposed law presented in the italian senate is generating apprehension among those who wish to obtain the Italian citizenship through descent.
The project, authored by Senator Robert Menia, influential member of the party Brothers of Italy, led by Georgia Meloni, current Prime Minister of Italy, has raised doubts and uncertainties about the future of those seeking recognition of their Italian citizenship.
In order to strengthen the requirements for obtaining citizenship, the bill suggests that descendants must prove a B1 level of proficiency in the Italian language and establishes one year of residence in Italy for descendants up to the third degree.
Menia claims that the Italian citizenship has been the object of an illegal market, motivating the need for energetic action to combat this alleged illegal practice. He expressed concerns about direct passport trading, especially in some Latin American countries.
The senator argues that the measure aims to preserve the identity and awareness of Italianity, paying tribute to the work of Mirko Tremaglia, considered the “father of the law for the vote of Italians abroad”.
However, the proposal has generated controversy and raised questions about its feasibility and impact. Many descendants fear that the new requirements will make it difficult or even prevent them from obtaining citizenship, which could affect their plans to reconnect with their Italian roots and their rights as citizens of the country.
Furthermore, the possibility of the bill being unconstitutional is being discussed.
Although it is too early to say whether the project will be approved and under what terms, the proposed law sponsored by an important parliamentarian from the Fratelli d'Italia party reveals that resistance to recognizing the citizenship of descendants of Italians exists across the entire Italian political spectrum, encompassing from the extreme left to the extreme right.
Discussions and debates on this subject are just beginning, again, involving different perspectives and interests.
Watch Senator Menia's statement (in Italian) on the proposed law:
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