"Italy's administration abstains from 'risky' citizenship ballot proposition"
Italy's right-wing coalition government, spearheaded by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is advocating for a boycott of an upcoming referendum aimed at loosening citizenship prerequisites. The proposed changes would reduce the residency requirement for non-EU immigrants seeking Italian citizenship from 10 years to five, potentially granting citizenship to around 2.5 million foreign residents in the country.
The government, which some analysts deem the most conservative in Italy's history, passed a law in March 2025 tightening citizenship restrictions, including blocking citizenship claims through great-grandparents. The administration view the referendum, predominantly supported by left-wing parties, as a challenge to their immigration and citizenship policies, and by encouraging a boycott, they aim to undermine the referendum's validity and prevent the loosening of citizenship access.
Moreover, the Meloni government, as well as its supporters, hold concerns about national identity, security, and the potential political influence that newly enfranchised citizens could wield, particularly as a sizable proportion of the immigrant population is Muslim and exhibits demographic growth. This concern intertwines with broader European apprehensions concerning Islamist political influence, including the influence of organizations tied to the Muslim Brotherhood, which critics associate with tensions related to Islamist terrorism and political Islam in Europe.
In summary, Italy's right-wing government is urging a boycott of the citizenship referendum due to their opposition to the proposed liberalization of citizenship regulations. Their aim is to maintain tighter control over immigration and citizenship policies, reflecting broader concerns about national identity, demographic changes, and security.
- The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has advocated for a boycott of a referendum proposing to ease citizenship requirements for immigrants.
- This decision is a response to the proposed changes that would lower the residency requirement for non-EU immigrants seeking Italian citizenship from 10 to 5 years.
- The Meloni government's stance on the referendum is rooted in concerns about national identity, security, and potential political influence of new citizens, particularly the large Muslim immigrant population.
- The Italian government passed a law in March 2025 tightening citizenship restrictions, including blocking citizenship claims through great-grandparents.
- The boycott strategy is intended to underscore the government's politics on immigration and citizenship, as the referendum is predominantly supported by left-wing parties.
- The government's position on the referendum also reflects broader European apprehensions concerning Islamist political influence, including concerns about organizations tied to the Muslim Brotherhood.
