What seemed to be consolidated by law is under threat. Since 2018, the city of Santa TeresaThe town of Espírito Santo, located in the mountains, officially holds the title of pioneer of Italian immigration in Brazil (Law No. 13.617). However, a parliamentary movement originating from the South of the country aims to change this historical record, generating a veritable diplomatic and legal offensive on the part of the people of Espírito Santo.
The offensive in Brasilia
The mayor of Santa Teresa, Kleber Medici, accompanied by federal deputies, met with the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) to present a robust technical dossier. The objective is to halt Bill No. 9.811/2018, which attempts to grant the city of... Saint John the Baptist (SC) the title of National Capital of Italian Immigration.
"We are acting firmly and in a coordinated manner in Brasília, together with the federal representatives, to guarantee that Santa Teresa retains its title as a pioneer of Italian immigration in Brazil," Medici stated.
History
The defense of Santa Teresa argues that its pioneering status is not merely a "label," but a structured historical fact:
- Tabacchi Expedition (1874): The beginning of large-scale organized immigration with permanent colonial settlements.
- Living culture: The teaching of the Italian language in public schools since 2007 and the traditional Del Vin Cart.
- International recognition: In 2024, the Italian ambassador, Alexander CorteseHe visited the city and unveiled a commemorative plaque reaffirming the title.
"This is not an isolated movement, but an organized flow of what is known as the Great Italian Immigration, with the distribution of land and the formation of a permanent colonial nucleus," explained the mayor.
what is at stake?
The rivalry goes beyond history books. The title of "Pioneer" or "National Capital" attracts investments in tourism, federal funds for heritage preservation, and strengthens the... soft power from the region, together with the Italian government. For Santa Teresa, losing the title would mean ignoring decades of research by the State Public Archives and historical institutions.
"We will continue dialoguing with parliamentarians and reinforcing the technical and legal arguments to prevent any setbacks," he told [the press]. Now ES.
Comparison of the dispute
| City / State | Basis of the argument | Status |
| Santa Teresa (ES) | Tabacchi Expedition (1874). Federal Law 13.617/2018. | He holds the official title by law. |
| Saint John the Baptist (SC) | Nucleus of Nova Itália (1836). | Bill currently under consideration in the CCJ (Committee on Constitution, Justice and Citizenship). |
FOLLOW-US
