How to Become Italian: Country Votes On Easing Citizenship Rules

Italians are casting their vote on a series of measures in a referendum this week, most notably a proposal to ease the country’s current rules to obtain citizenship, with turnout expected to be low amid government opposition, the Associated Press reported. 

The citizenship plebiscite, held on Sunday and Monday, aims to halve the residency requirement for foreign nationals to apply for Italian citizenship from 10 to five years, and would grant automatic naturalization to their underage children. 

Backed by civil society groups, trade unions and left-wing parties, the reform could immediately impact up to 1.4 million people and align Italian rules with citizenship standards in other countries in the European Union.  

Supporters said the change would promote integration and remove systemic barriers to full civic participation. But critics, including members of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition, rejected the proposal as undermining national identity, the BBC noted. 

Meloni, who called the current law “excellent,” announced she would visit the polls without voting, a symbolic gesture criticized by opponents as encouraging abstention. 

Citizenship advocates and opposition parties expressed concern that many Italians are not familiar with the referendum and could skip the vote: They complained of little public debate and sparse coverage from state media. 

Last month, Italy’s communications authority, the Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM), filed a complaint against state television RAI and other broadcasters for inadequate and unbalanced reporting on the referendum. 

Polls also showed that only 46 percent of Italians knew details about the plebiscite. 

To pass, a referendum in Italy needs at least 50 percent of eligible voters supporting it to be valid. However, preliminary projections estimate a turnout of far less.  

Analysts said the governing coalition’s strategy is aimed at suppressing turnout and ensuring the referendum’s failure without openly opposing the measures. 

The four other referendums are aimed at restoring workplace protections by reversing liberalizing labor laws from a decade ago. These included increasing compensation for layoffs, strengthening job security, and reintroducing joint liability for workplace injuries among contractors and subcontractors.