Mayors in the Veneto region criticized the imposition of fines on municipalities for delays in transcribing court rulings that recognize Italian citizenship for people of Italian descent.
The reaction gained momentum after the municipality of Castagnaro, in the province of Verona, was ordered to pay 100 euros per day of delay in a lawsuit involving three plaintiffs. In the ruling, Issued on October 29, 2025, by Judge Cristina Pezzini, She stipulated a 15-day deadline for the start of the collection process..
O common the transcription (registration) of the certificates has already begun, according to what was found by Italianism.
The response was immediate. Camillo De Pellegrin, mayor of Val di Zoldo, in Belluno, led the protests. “If municipalities are going to be punished for not being able to keep up with the processes, then commission us immediately,” he told the newspaper “Il Gazzettino” on Tuesday (4). The phrase was shared by mayors of small towns, who claim a lack of structure in the face of high demand.
Val di Zoldo is known for employing the so-called "go-slow" tactic to deliberately delay procedures. The municipality has already been sued for this. Read more here: Veneto court orders end to “operation turtle” in Val di Zoldo
Following the advance announcement by ItalianismoIn the case of Castagnaro, the reaction on social media was immediate. In groups of Brazilians and Argentinians of Italian descent, there were celebrations for the favorable decisions and criticism of mayors who delay the registrations.
"It borders on the absurd," says association of municipalities.
Carlo Rapicavoli, director of Anci Veneto, the association of municipalities in the region, described the fines as “mockery"(mockery). He criticized the imbalance of power."
"The judiciary is receiving reinforcements, but the municipalities are left alone. This could generate an uncontrollable volume of legal challenges and financial losses for the administrations," he told the newspaper "Il Gazzettino".
The expectation is for an increase in lawsuits.
The decision against Castagnaro set an important precedent. The expectation is that there will be an increase in lawsuits compelling municipalities to meet deadlines.
“It is unacceptable for a municipality to take one or two years to transcribe citizenship recognition certificates. This is a court order, but many simply ignore it,” says Alessandra Cambiaghi, from [organization name]. Blessed Citizenship, a company specializing in consulting services for Italian citizenship processes.
Rome is also cited as an example of non-compliance. "The worst thing is the administrative silence, as happens in Rome. No response whatsoever. So, we are left with no choice but to resort to the courts against the inefficiency of these Italian municipalities. Almost always with the connivance of..." mayor“Cambiaghi concludes.
Poor service also contributes to the delays. Municipal offices operate on reduced hours.
Castagnaro, for example, only works part-time. In Val di Zoldo, the town hall run by De Pellegrin operates only 18 hours a week—which amounts to just over 3 hours a day. This leaves him with plenty of time, it seems, to campaign against the... jus sanguinis.
