During a session of the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Italian Senate, this Wednesday (03), the senator Andrew Giorgis (Democratic Party), professor of Constitutional Law, harshly criticized the method adopted by the Government to process the decree restricting Italian citizenship by descent.
Giorgis considered it “very serious” that a topic with relevant constitutional implications is addressed by means of a decree-law. According to him, this route limits the space for an adequate parliamentary debate, especially when there are already bills on the topic under analysis by the Committee.
For the senator, the Government is trying to impose a hasty debate on a sensitive right, which directly affects the possibility of recognizing citizenship for millions of descendants of Italians abroad.
Proposal for hearings and resistance to unification
The senator advocated holding a series of hearings, albeit limited, to hear from experts and representatives of civil society. He even suggested temporarily suspending other matters on the agenda to give priority to discussing the decree.
The Chairman of the Committee proposed integrating this topic into the cycle of hearings already planned for bill no. 98 and related bills, which deal with the reacquisition of citizenship.
Giorgis objected, stating that the content of the decree under discussion is distinct and more restrictive, and that it deserves separate treatment. The rapporteur, Senator Francesco Lisei (FdI), disagreed with the idea of suspending further legislative analyses.
At the end of the debate, the Committee decided to integrate the hearings. The parliamentary groups had to indicate the names of their guests by 10 am the following day, that is, this Thursday.
The plenary vote is scheduled to take place between May 6 and 8.
Before going to a plenary vote, the proposal must receive opinions from four other parliamentary committees:
1st Committee on Constitutional Affairs (in progress)
2nd Justice Committee
3rd Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense
5th Budget and Finance Committee
