Despite its failure, discussions on citizenship reform are gaining momentum in Italy.
Italian Referendum on Citizenship Reform Falls Short of Success
Italian Referendum on Citizenship Reform Falls Short of Success
Low voter turnout dooms efforts to simplify citizenship application process for foreigners.
In a disappointing turn of events for advocates of immigration reform, the recent referendum aimed at easing citizenship requirements for foreigners in Italy was unsuccessful due to low voter turnout. Polling concluded on Monday with only about 30 percent of eligible voters participating, falling significantly short of the required 50 percent for the referendum to be considered valid.
The vote, which took place over the weekend, sought to reduce the residency requirement from ten years to five years before a foreign national could apply for citizenship, as well as to strengthen labor rights. The failure of the referendum was a welcome outcome for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had openly opposed the initiative. Meloni’s coalition partners had also encouraged abstention from voting, leading to a lack of engagement.
The result has sparked a national dialogue over citizenship definitions and migrants' rights, an increasingly relevant topic in both European and American contexts. Children born in Italy to legal immigrants, for example, must wait until they are 18 to apply for citizenship and must have lived in the country without interruption since their birth. Economists warn that Italy is facing a demographic crisis and view migration as a potential solution.
The referendum had received backing from various trade unions, civil groups, and some opposition parties, yet it lacked broad bipartisan support. The timing coincided with the school holiday season, which many believe adversely affected participation rates. Historically, since 1990, only three out of 14 referendums have managed to garner sufficient voter engagement for validation.
Activist Fioralba Duma from the Italians Without Citizenship organization expressed dismay at the outcome but noted that discussions sparked by the referendum have illuminated the plight of many foreigners in Italy, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for better integration. Preliminary counts indicated that approximately 64 percent of participants favored the reduced residency requirement, suggesting a strong underlying support for reform despite the referendum's failure. “While this was a setback, we will keep advocating for change,” Duma added.
The vote, which took place over the weekend, sought to reduce the residency requirement from ten years to five years before a foreign national could apply for citizenship, as well as to strengthen labor rights. The failure of the referendum was a welcome outcome for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had openly opposed the initiative. Meloni’s coalition partners had also encouraged abstention from voting, leading to a lack of engagement.
The result has sparked a national dialogue over citizenship definitions and migrants' rights, an increasingly relevant topic in both European and American contexts. Children born in Italy to legal immigrants, for example, must wait until they are 18 to apply for citizenship and must have lived in the country without interruption since their birth. Economists warn that Italy is facing a demographic crisis and view migration as a potential solution.
The referendum had received backing from various trade unions, civil groups, and some opposition parties, yet it lacked broad bipartisan support. The timing coincided with the school holiday season, which many believe adversely affected participation rates. Historically, since 1990, only three out of 14 referendums have managed to garner sufficient voter engagement for validation.
Activist Fioralba Duma from the Italians Without Citizenship organization expressed dismay at the outcome but noted that discussions sparked by the referendum have illuminated the plight of many foreigners in Italy, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for better integration. Preliminary counts indicated that approximately 64 percent of participants favored the reduced residency requirement, suggesting a strong underlying support for reform despite the referendum's failure. “While this was a setback, we will keep advocating for change,” Duma added.
