Tajani relaunches 'Ius Italiae' but allies oppose it

The decree-law that narrowed the way for the recognition ofcitizenship iure sanguinis does not exhaust the intentions ofreforming law 91/1992, which regulates the acquisition of citizenship. In recent days, the debate on the bill presented in October 2024, both in the House and in the Senate, by Forza Italia MPs has been rekindled. The proposal was relaunched by the Foreign Minister and vice-premier Antonio Tajani himself, after the outcome of the referendum that did not reach a quorum and recorded a significant number of 'no' votes to the hypothesis of raising the period of residence in Italy required to obtain citizenship from ten to five years.

According to Tajani, the 'Ius Italiae', which brings forward by two years (from 18 to 16) the possibility for foreigners to acquire citizenship, aims at "making the granting of citizenship more serious" because it requires "ten years at school". A stance that found firm opposition from the League and the Minister of Transport and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, for whom 'the citizenship law is fine as it is', and from Fratelli d'Italia. Also according to the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the current citizenship law is 'excellent'; but Meloni specified that 'if Parliament wants to discuss with common sense solutions to improve some rigidities, I will evaluate them without prejudice'. In recent days there has also been speculation about a possible 'swap' - which for now seems to have been ruled out - between the 'Ius Italiae', dear to Forza Italia and opposed by the League, and the third term of office for regional presidents, on which positions are reversed.

What is certain is that so far the proposals for a law on 'Ius Italiae' have been stuck in committee. They have also 'shrunk': some parts relating to the acquisition of citizenship by right of blood have in fact been transferred to other provisions. This is the case of the new contributions for citizenship applications by the descendants of Italians living abroad: the increase to 600 euro of the costs for applications submitted to the consulate or the municipality was included in the Budget Law for 2025 (which also raised the unified contribution for court appeals) and is therefore already operational. The same applies to the limits on recognition iure sanguinis, as Decree Law 36/2025 set even stricter standards.

In the text therefore remains the rule of 'Ius Italiae' in the strict sense, which allows a foreigner, born in Italy or who entered before the age of five, residing without interruption for ten years and who has 'successfully completed compulsory education' to become a citizen, even before the age of 18. But the profound differences in the majority make it very difficult.