Background on the Referendum
On Sunday and Monday, Italian voters will participate in a referendum to decide on two key measures: simplifying the process for obtaining citizenship and strengthening labor rights. The current government, led by Giorgia Meloni, opposes both proposals.
Current Citizenship Requirements
Currently, a non-European resident without marital or blood ties to Italy must live in the country for 10 years before applying for citizenship. The proposed referendum seeks to reduce this period to five years, aligning Italy with countries like Germany and France.
Potential Beneficiaries
Supporters of the “yes” vote claim that approximately 2.5 million people could benefit from this reform, which is backed by the leading opposition party, the Democratic Party (PD, center-left).
Government Opposition
Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy (far-right) party, is “absolutely against” the proposed changes. Her coalition partners have urged citizens not to vote, as valid results require more than 50% voter turnout.
Voter Turnout and Context
By mid-day, voter turnout barely reached 7.41%, according to the Interior Ministry.
Meloni considers the current law “excellent” and claims Italy is already “one of the European nations with the highest number of naturalizations.” According to Eurostat, Italy granted citizenship to 213,500 people in 2023, placing it fifth in the EU.
Previous Restrictions on Citizenship
In March, the government already tightened blood-right citizenship conditions by limiting it to two generations. This change affected descendants of Italian emigrants in Latin America, particularly those in Argentina. Now, at least one parent or grandparent must be Italian-born to apply for citizenship, whereas previously a great-grandparent was sufficient.
Labor Law Liberalization Laws Up for Abolishment
Alongside the referendum, Italians will vote to repeal four labor market liberalization laws, an initiative led by the country’s main trade union, CGIL.
CGIL’s Goals
The union aims to reinstate protective measures against precarious contracts, dismissals, and workplace accidents that were previously removed.
“We want to reverse a culture that has prioritized business interests over those of workers,” explained Maurizio Landini, CGIL’s general secretary, to AFP.
Democratic Party’s Stance
The Democratic Party supports the change, despite having enacted some of the measures in question while in power. The party seeks to regain support from the working class, currently polling at 23%, far behind Meloni’s 30%.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main topic of the referendum? The referendum focuses on simplifying citizenship acquisition and strengthening labor rights in Italy.
- Who supports the proposed changes? The opposition Democratic Party (PD) and various political parties and NGOs back the reforms.
- Who opposes these changes? The current government, led by Giorgia Meloni, opposes both proposed measures.
- What are the current citizenship requirements in Italy? Non-European residents without marital or blood ties to Italy must live in the country for 10 years before applying for citizenship.
- How many people could benefit from the proposed changes? Approximately 2.5 million people could be eligible for easier citizenship under the new rules.
- What are the labor laws up for repeal? Four labor market liberalization laws are being voted on for potential abolishment, aiming to restore protective measures against precarious contracts, dismissals, and workplace accidents.
