Italy defers law granting citizenship to 2nd-generation migrants
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E-mail Xinhua, July 18, 2017
The Italian cabinet deferred the discussion of a bill that would grant citizenship to foreign children born or raised in the country, local media said Monday.
Rather than being examined throughout the summer, as expected, the draft law would see its legislative proceedings delayed until autumn.
"Considering the urgent deadlines in the Senate calendar, and the difficulties that have arisen among some forces in the (government's) majority, I do not think conditions are right to pass the bill on citizenship before the summer break," Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said in a statement on Sunday.
"Still, it is a just law, and my personal commitment -- and that of the government -- to approving it in autumn remains," he added.
The draft law would recognize as new citizens at least 800,000 young people already living in Italy, according to estimates by Leone Moressa Foundation based on official statistics.
More specifically, it would involve some 634,592 foreign minors born in Italy since 1998, plus 166,000 born abroad but attending Italian schools for at least five years.
These, in fact, would be the two major factors modifying the current legislation, if the reform is approved.
With the new law, the citizenship would be based on a tempered "right of the soil" principle, and on the cultural participation of the child ("right of the culture").
As such, citizenship would be granted to all children born in Italy to foreign parents (one of whom must have a long-term residence permit), and all those entering the country before 12 years old, but attending Italian schools for at least five years.
Currently, children born to foreign parents can apply for the Italian citizenship between their 18 and 19 birthdays. Yet, they must also prove they have lived here legally and continuously their whole life, which can be a difficult task considering the country's heavy red tape.
The reform project is controversial -- most center-right parties and anti-establishment Five Star Movement would not support it -- and the issue was being debated while the country is witnessing the highest inflows of migrants and refugees in decades.
Although the prime minister blamed the busy calendar for the delay, it seemed clear a major reason was the lack of solid support in the senate, which is where his center-left cabinet can count on a thin majority of seats only.
In June, Gentiloni had appealed to lawmakers to swiftly approve what he had called "a law of civilization."
The draft law has been passed by deputies in October 2015, and now needs the green light of senators to enter into force. In case the senate modifies the current text, however, the bill will have to hit the lower house floor again for a second approval.
Opponents to the reform, including anti-immigration Northern League, have submitted some 48,000 amendments to the text, according to media reports.
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