President Napolitano urges citizenship for children of immigrants

Policy Response DateNovember 22, 2011 Country: Italy Address: Rome General Type: Discrimination, Institutional discrimination, Equality/Integration Racism and discrimination phenomena: Nationalism
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Political discourse -parties - orgs, Integration - social cohesion, Daily life Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Political Discourse

Related Policy Responses

"It's folly. It's absurd that children born in Italy can't become Italian," said President Giorgio Napolitano during an address to the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Rome. The 86-year-old former communist said the children of immigrants could give new life to an ageing country with a declining birthrate. A trend that if not reversed will cause a deficit in the country's pension system. Citizenship for immigrant youth "would give new energy in a society that is for the most part old and sclerotic," he said. Meeting some new citizens including soccer star Mario Balotelli at the palace last week, Napolitano said the main reform should concern minors and young people in the country. "They are not yet fully Italian citizens but they are citizens in their daily lives, in their feelings and identity," he said. According to Napolitano, Italians widely share the view that children born in Italy of immigrant parents should get citizenship. The law that governs Italian citizenship is largely formed from the principle of jus sanguinis, or right of blood, meaning that at least one parent must be Italian to be granted citizenship. In many nations like the United States it is enough to be born in the country to have access to citizenship. House Speaker Gianfranco Fini has been campaigning for years for such a law change, and to give immigrants the vote. Centre-left parties, currently the minority in parliament, are in favour of such moves but the centre right and the regionalist Northern League are not.

Source:

ANSA, "President Napolitano urges citizenship for children of immigrants", 22.11.2011 - http://wwwc.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/english/2011/11/22/visualizza_new.html_15734991.html (Date of access: 23.11.2011)

ADN Kronos International, "President Napolitano wants law to grant children of immigrants citizenship", 22.11.2011 - http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/Aki/English/CultureAndMedia/Italy-President-wants-law-to-grant-children-of-immigrants-citizenship_312671768608.html (Date of access: 23.11.2011)

Corriere della Sera, "Napolitano: «È una follia che i figli di immigrati nati in Italia non siano cittadini»", 22.11.2011 - http://www.corriere.it/politica/11_novembre_22/napolitano-politica-immigrazione_3dad5690-14fa-11e1-9140-38f81e7faa5e.shtml (Date of access: 23.11.2011)