Referendum, the fifth question is on citizenship

On 8 and 9 June, there will also be a vote on the 1992 law regulating the granting of Italian citizenship to foreigners. According to the current law, an adult foreigner who has reached the age of majority and is a citizen of a country that is not a member of the European Union must legally reside in Italy for ten years in order to apply for Italian citizenship. The aim of the abrogative referendum is to reduce the residency period from ten to five years, restoring a requirement introduced in 1865 and unchanged until 1992. The ten-year term is the general rule and is among the longest in Europe. The ten-year requirement, according to the referendum promoters, does not reflect the reality of many foreigners living permanently in Italy and risks excluding their minor children as well. Shortening the time to five years, without touching the other criteria, such as income and knowledge of the language, would simplify a process that is currently hindered by bureaucracy, bringing Italy closer to the standards of other European countries. On the other hand, those who support the 'No' camp believe that the current law is already adequate and that Italy issues too many citizenships compared to other countries.