Italy grants Argentina's Milei citizenship sparking outrage

Italy grants citizenship to Argentine President Javier Milei

Critics call the decision ‘intolerable discrimination’ against young Italians on ‘an arduous journey to gain citizenship’.



Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomes Argentina's President Javier Milei at Palazzo Chigi in Rome. [File: Andreas Solaro/AFP]

14 Dec 2024
The Italian government has granted Argentinian President Javier Milei citizenship based on his Italian heritage, according to Italian news agency ANSA, sparking outrage across the country.

Milei’s sister Karina also received citizenship, ANSA reported on Saturday, which said the applications were fast-tracked by Rome.

Riccardo Magi, a lawmaker from the opposition party +Europa, condemned the decision, calling it “intolerable discrimination” against young Italians who will face years of bureaucracy to obtain citizenship.

“Millions of Italians born in Italy, raised here, who studied, worked, and pay taxes in this country – unlike President Milei – will face an arduous journey to gain citizenship,” Magi said in a video posted on social media.

Current law requires foreigners to live in Italy for 10 years before applying for citizenship, and even children born in Italy to foreign parents must wait until they turn 18 to apply.

More:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/14/italy-grants-argentine-president-javier-milei-citizenship-sparking-outrage