The goal of collecting 500,000 signatures for the citizenship referendum in Italy, which initially seemed challenging, was reached and surpassed with a surge in support in the final days leading up to the deadline. The referendum aims to reduce the requirement for continuous legal residence in the country from 10 to 5 years for foreigners to become citizens. The last three days saw a substantial mobilization of well-known figures from various fields including culture, music, sports, and politics, such as Alessandro Barbero, Roberto Saviano, and Malika Ayane. The strong support demonstrated by Italians for participation in the democratic process is seen as a rejection of the government’s ideological approach to key issues for the country’s future.
Significant contributions to the signature collection came from the northern regions of Italy, with Lombardy leading in absolute numbers at 106,000 signatures by a certain time, and Emilia-Romagna showing the highest rate of signatures relative to its population. Artists and public figures also played a role in endorsing and supporting the citizenship referendum, with people like Julio Velasco and Malika Ayane adding their names to the list of signatories. The organizers of the initiative call on Italians to continue signing the petition in the coming days to further strengthen the popular movement.
Despite reaching their goal, the promoters of the referendum urge citizens to keep signing to consolidate the political weight of the initiative. However, there have been some controversies, with the online platform for collecting signatures experiencing technical difficulties for two consecutive days. Some political figures have called for government intervention to address these issues and potentially extend the deadline for collecting signatures. The success of the referendum in gaining public support and the attention of politicians sets the stage for further debates and actions on citizenship laws in Italy.
The debate on citizenship requirements extends beyond the referendum to the parliamentary arena. While the Democratic Party has already presented its own bill, all eyes are on the proposal from Forza Italia, which suggests 10 years of school attendance as a condition for citizenship, with significant changes to the current acquisition process. Discussions and negotiations among political parties are ongoing, with the possibility of not reaching a consensus before 2025 due to existing differences between coalition partners and upcoming legislative priorities.
Even with the referendum in progress, the discussion on citizenship legislation remains a point of contention within the government. President of Forza Italia, Antonio Tajani, states that the distance between the proposals of different parties in the coalition is substantial. Giorgia Meloni, the President of the council from New York, expresses support for the current citizenship law in Italy, deeming it excellent and considering 10 years of residency as adequate. She maintains that if a referendum takes place, the decision ultimately lies with the Italian people, emphasizing the democratic process in shaping the country’s laws and policies.
