The Mayor of Val di Zoldo, Camillo De PellegrinHe reiterated his harsh criticism of descendants of Italians residing outside the European Union. He opposed the proposal that would allow Italian citizens living abroad to access Italy's public health system by paying an annual fee.
According to him, the measure could cause the collapse of the country's already fragile health system.
"Joining the proposal will not be attractive to healthy people. Those who will want to pay are precisely those with serious illnesses who cannot get adequate treatment in their countries," said the mayor. interview with journalist Claudio Fontanive, from the newspaper Il Gazzettino, this Sunday (14).
"They will not be tourists, but patients."
According to text approved by the Chamber of Deputies, Italians registered with AIRE (registration of Italians abroad) They will be able to access the National Health Service by paying a fee of 2.000 euros per year.
“It would seem like a good service for our compatriots and a good revenue stream for the regional coffers. But who, on the other side of the ocean, will be willing to pay 2.000 euros annually for healthcare?” De Pellegrin asked.
He argued that "it probably won't be healthy people coming to Italy for a normal stay." (simply get travel insurance)On the contrary, people with pathologies requiring significant, expensive, cutting-edge treatments that their country may not offer or that they would not be able to afford will be encouraged to register.
Warning about health tourism.
"It's unfortunate to have to talk about sordid money when people's health is at stake. That's true. But what will be sustainable for our healthcare system?" Could it possibly become a form of health tourism? "Will the estimated revenue be enough to cover the expenses of those who will need to undergo complicated procedures and long hospital stays? Almost certainly not," the mayor declared.
According to the report, the province of Belluno has more than 63 citizens registered with AIRE, with 77% residing outside the European Union.
Risk of getting out of control
The mayor also criticized the current legislation regarding citizenship by descent.
“If we add up the enormous distortions of the previous citizenship law, which allowed and will allow hundreds of thousands of Italian citizenship recognitions in favor of perfect foreigners who have never set foot in Italy, the short circuit is complete,” declared De Pellegrin.
The proposal was authored by a member of parliament elected from the overseas constituency. De Pellegrin added a caveat: “With all due respect to the honorable Andrea Di Giuseppe, who has always fought to expose the flaws in the citizenship system while protecting 'true' compatriots, but in this case either we do not understand the purpose of the reform or something is once again at risk of spiraling out of control.”
Mayor fears defeat in court: "It would be the end"
He also mentioned the Tajani lawwhich in July of this year restricted the recognition of Italian citizenship by descent to the second degree, and commented on the possible review of the new law by the Constitutional Court.
"If we add to that the circumstance that the new citizenship law, as early as March, could be rendered partially or totally ineffective by an intervention from the Constitutional Court—and we hope not, because that would be the end—we'll have hit the jackpot," said the mayor.
"We're essentially going to provide interventions and treatments to half the world as gifts."...with the consent of those who sustain the system and wait months for a consultation. The recognition of Italian citizenship is not merely, as some like to say, an appreciation of culture and traditions, a proper act in memory of emigrated ancestors. It is much more. It is a status that brings with it a series of benefits. And, once granted... (the correct word is recognized)"It's not going to be taken away anymore. It's an avalanche that will sweep us all away. Besides, minors don't pay if at least one of the parents agrees," De Pellegrin concluded.
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