The Italian Lega Party’s new proposal seeks to introduce further restrictions on the acquisition of Italian citizenship for foreigners born in Italy who have been convicted of certain offences, while also expanding the circumstances under which citizenship may be revoked.
In light of the incidents that took place in Milan in recent days, the Lega Party is proposing to add terrorism, espionage, looting and devastation to the list of offences that may prevent individuals from acquiring Italian citizenship. The text currently under discussion already provides for exclusion in cases involving final convictions for the most serious offences, punishable by sentences exceeding three years. These also include certain drug-dealing offences, even those involving relatively minor cases.
Further amendments concern the requirements for obtaining Italian citizenship through marriage or naturalization. The proposal would extend the obligation to demonstrate at least a B1 level of proficiency in Italian to individuals who have signed an integration agreement or hold an EU long-term residence permit.
According to the party, the incidents in Milan have made the adoption of stricter rules urgent. The Lega Party has therefore announced that it will introduce this new amendment aimed at adding devastation and looting, as well as offences committed against law enforcement officers, to the list of crimes that may prevent individuals from acquiring Italian citizenship.
The debate in the Chamber of Deputies has only just begun, and parliamentary discussions on the text are still ongoing.
This article was written by Giuditta De Ricco and Diletta Furesi.
