Rome, September 3, 2024 – Forza Italia is pushing determinedly for the ius scholae, a proposed citizenship law that would allow foreign minors to obtain Italian citizenship after completing a ten-year educational path. This initiative, which represents a significant shift from the current citizenship rules, faces strong resistance within the governing coalition, particularly from Fratelli d’Italia (FdI) and the Lega.
The proposal by the azzurri suggests that a minor born in Italy to foreign parents, or who arrived in the country before the age of 12, could apply for citizenship after completing a ten-year educational cycle, which includes the first school cycle and two years of the second cycle or, alternatively, a three or four-year professional course. This new criterion contrasts with the current requirement of 18 years of continuous residence to apply for citizenship, aiming to eliminate any automatic granting.
Despite Forza Italia’s commitment, the road to passing the law is far from easy. The government allies, FdI and the Lega, have shown hostility towards the proposal, describing it as a “summer issue” with no relevance to their political agenda. Tommaso Foti, a member of Fratelli d’Italia, dismissed the issue as non-priority, while Nicola Molteni of the Lega sarcastically referred to Forza Italia’s interest in the ius scholae as a “summer fling.”
However, Forza Italia does not seem inclined to give up. The party has already begun working on a draft law to be formally presented in Parliament, with the goal of opening a serious debate on the issue by September. The party’s spokesperson, Raffaele Nevi, emphasized the importance of proceeding with caution but prioritizing current government priorities, such as the economic maneuver.
Meanwhile, the opposition is not standing still. Azione leader Carlo Calenda has announced the introduction of an amendment to the security bill that includes a provision similar to the ius scholae, openly challenging Forza Italia. Azione’s proposal allows minors born in Italy who have completed at least ten years of education in the Italian school system to acquire citizenship.
The Democratic Party (Pd) is also pushing for a citizenship reform, though with a broader vision that also includes ius soli. The group leader in the Chamber, Chiara Braga, criticized the lack of a citizenship law as a sore point for the Pd, stressing that the party is not willing to treat the issue as political bargaining.
In short, the citizenship debate in Italy remains heated and complex, with numerous legislative proposals piling up in Parliament from both the majority and the opposition. While Forza Italia is trying to steer the government towards a system reform, the resistance from its allies and the competition from the opposition’s proposals make the approval of a new citizenship law a difficult goal to achieve in the short term.
