The Italian Senate approved this Thursday, the 15th, a decree-law limiting the transmission of Italian citizenship by right of blood. The measure received 81 votes in favor and 37 against.
The text was proposed by Giorgia Meloni's government and still needs to be voted on in the Chamber of Deputies. If confirmed, it could make it difficult or even impossible for children and grandchildren of Italians living abroad to obtain citizenship.
Fabio Porta, a Democratic Party deputy elected by South America, harshly criticized the decision. In video published on social media, he classified the text as a “shameful decree”.
"A few hours ago, the Senate of the Republic approved a shameful decree-law, a decree that, contrary to the rules that should govern this type of measure, had no urgency whatsoever.”, He stated.
According to Porta, the government justified the decree by stating that Italians abroad would be a threat to national security.Yes, you heard and understood correctly: we, Italians abroad, would be a national security problem.. "
For the deputy, the measure discriminates against Italians living outside the country. “This shameful decree, with perhaps only one precedent in the fascist period, creates two categories of Italians: those in series A, born and resident in Italy, and those in series B, who live abroad and hold another citizenship.. "
Porta cited descendants of Italians in Australia, Brazil, Argentina and the United States as the main people affected. “These people will no longer be able to pass on citizenship after one generation. It will be a definitive cut, if the decree is confirmed by the Chamber.. "
He also denounced his party’s isolation in the vote. “All parties supporting the government voted in favor. The Democratic Party was the only parliamentary group that opposed. "
Finally, the deputy promised resistance. “We will do everything we can to block this decree in the Chamber, to force the government to withdraw it or to fundamentally modify it. This decree is not only against Italians in the world, it is against Italy itself and its future.. "
The text will now be analyzed by the Chamber of Deputies. There is no set date for the vote yet.