Maroni against granting immigrants right to vote

Citizenship is a requirement for the right to vote, Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni has said.

The Constitution says that the right to vote is recognized to Italian citizens, not to holders of the Permit of Stay, the minister said during the launching of a book titled 'La sfida' (The Challenge) by the Mayor of Turin Sergio Chiamparino.

Mr. Maroni made it clear that the right to vote should not be granted to immigrants.

He said that after legally residing in Italy for 10 years, a foreigner not only has a right to obtain Italian citizenship, but to obtain it “immediately”.

Mr. Maroni holds that awarding citizenship should be seen as recognition of the process of integration.

The minister disagreed with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plans to strip French nationality from immigrants if they kill or try to kill police or public officials. “I think that once citizenship is given, it should not be withdrawn,” Mr. Maroni said.

Mayor of Turin Chiamparino called for clear time frame for obtaining citizenship. He noted that there are people who have been living and working in Italy for 23-24 years but have not yet obtained citizenship.

He said immigrants who have been residents for at least five years should be given the right to vote in local elections. “I believe that making it possible for immigrants to vote in the area where they work and pay taxes is a way of making immigrant communities responsible,” the mayor said.