New text complicates process of becoming Italian citizens

Candidates must know Italian language, culture, history and Constitution,

14th December 2009: The Parliamentary Constitutional Affairs Commission has approved a proposed Citizenship reform Bill which introduces tougher rules than the ones already in force.

Democratic Party has criticised the new Bill proposed by Rapporteur Isabella Bertolini (of the ruling People of Freedom Party - PDL) President of the Parliamentary Constitutional Affairs Commission, terming it a “step backwards” dictated by Lega Nord party.

After taking into consideration all the 13 proposed Citizenship reform Bills, the Commission was supposed to try to find a common text to which all could agree upon.

One of these was the bipartisan Bill submitted by MPs Andrea Sarubbi (Democratic Party) and Fabio Granata (PDL) and signed by several MPs from both the government and opposition sides.

Under the so-called Sarubbi-Granata Bill, children born in Italy would have become Italians if either the mother or the father had been a legal resident in the country for at least five years. Italian citizenship would have also been given to foreign children who arrived in the country at the age of five and remained here until they turned 18. The Bill also proposed granting citizenship to foreigners who had been legal residents for five years. They, however, had to have sufficient income (slightly more than 5,000 Euros), have basic knowledge of Italian language and sufficient knowledge of civil life in Italy and the country’s Constitution.

Under the new Bill proposed by Ms. Bertolini, the number of years of legal residence required to grant citizenship will remain as it is now, that is, 10 years. But before qualifying to become Italian citizens, immigrants would have to go for obligatory courses on Italian and European culture and history, civil education and Italian Constitution.

Children born in Italy of foreign parents would become Italians only after turning 18 years old on condition that they successfully complete obligatory education.

“This text is a provocation,” said Mr. Roberto Zaccaria, Vice President of the Parliamentary Constitutional Affairs Commission. “With our text, we wanted to widen the possibilities of obtaining Italian citizenship, but with this text the opportunities are restricted even for those born in Italy,” he said.

Comparing the new text to the Citizenship Laws already in force in other European countries, Mr. Zaccaria said, ours will be the worst Citizenship Law.

The new text clearly shows that the ruling party is conditioned by the xenophobic stand of Lega Nord, he said.